Chicago White Sox play-by-play John Schriffen didn’t get off to the best start with fans when he took over for Jason Benetti. The first “South Side Stand Up” call was criticized by fans, analysts and local media members. But now, there might be another concern for Schriffen.

One of the lone bright spots through the first week for the White Sox has been rookie Munetaka Murakami. He began the year with three-straight home runs despite the team being swept in Milwaukee. He even earned a nickname on behalf of Schriffen as “South Side Samurai” following a RBI single the other day against the Miami Marlins.

But a new report from the Chicago Sun-Times suggests that White Sox brass wasn’t happy with the call.

John Schriffen’s nickname for Munetaka Murakami causing concern for White Sox?

With Schriffen in a contract year, this isn’t a great start. The Chicago Sun-Times’ Jeff Agrest reported on Thursday that Schriffen’s call didn’t excite the White Sox brass due to the possibility of offending viewers:

“That one is crushed into center field,” Schriffen said. “Here comes [Edgar] Quero, he will score easily. An RBI single for the ‘South Side Samurai.’ ”

Schriffen emphasized those last three words, of which analyst Gordon Beckham seemed to approve, following excitedly with, “Whoa! Oh, baby!”

Sox officials weren’t as excited about the possibility of offending viewers. Fans shouldn’t expect to hear the nickname again.

The White Sox are set to host the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday for their home opener. We will see if Schriffen uses the nickname or if it was a one-time thing on the South Side.

The post REPORT: John Schriffen’s nickname for Munetaka Murakami not sitting well with White Sox brass appeared first on ChiCitySports.

.Before Toni Kukoc joined the Chicago Bulls in the 1993-94 NBA season, he was making a name for himself overseas. Both Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were able to see that first hand at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Now, the Croatian national team along with Kukoc will be featured in a special documentary about the 1992 Olympics.

Emmy Award–winning filmmaker Jack Baric is set to begin production on his latest feature. More Than a Dream is an inspirational sports documentary that tells the extraordinary story of the Croatian national basketball team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Baric will direct and produce the film, which will explore the team’s remarkable silver medal win in their Olympic debut as an independent nation, challenging the legendary “Dream Team” in the gold medal game. Led by four players who were among the first group of international players to enter the NBA – Drazen Petrovic, Toni Kukoc, Dino Radja, and Stojko Vrankovic – the Croatians emerged as a premier European force, defying expectations and securing a place in basketball history.

The inspiration for the film

While the Dream Team commanded the global spotlight during the 1992 Olympics, the Croatian squad arrived in Barcelona with little fanfare. Back home, the newly independent nation was fighting the deadliest conflict on European soil since World War II — a war that claimed more than 10,000 Croatian lives and displaced over 300,000 people.

With a third of their country under siege and fierce fighting all around them, the Croatians risked everything just to make it to practice and games. Leading the charge were four players who were among the first wave of international stars to enter the NBA: Drazen Petrovic of the New Jersey Nets, Toni Kukoc of the Chicago Bulls, and Boston Celtics big men Dino Radja and Stojko Vrankovic.

The entire world knew the Dream Team was destined for gold in 1992, so the real race was to see who would face them in the final. Croatia, Russia, Lithuania, Brazil, and Australia all vied for that spot—with Croatia ultimately earning the right to meet the Americans in the championship game.

“More Than a Dream is more than a sports story,” Baric said. “It’s about a nation fighting to define itself under impossible circumstances. And the courage of athletes who carried the hopes of an entire country onto the world stage. Their journey to Barcelona, facing the greatest team ever assembled, is a testament to resilience, love, unity, and the unbreakable human spirit. I can’t wait to bring their story to life on screen.”

“Representing Croatia in 1992 was one of the greatest honors of my life,” Kukoc said. “Our people were going through a very hard time. And the Olympics were much more than a basketball tournament for me and my teammates. We wanted to do something for our people. I’m thankful to Jack for telling the story of what that team meant—not just for basketball, but for Croatia.”

Full production on More than a Dream is slated to begin in May. It will feature interviews with various sports, cultural, and political figures from Croatia and the United States over archival footage of the team, Olympic games, and wartime Croatia.

Baric plans to premiere the film at the LA28 Olympics.

The post Toni Kukoc, Croatian national team to be featured in 1992 Olympic Basketball documentary appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Round of 32 Schedule – 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

Home teams listed first; visit the ***schedule section*** of ***ussoccer.com/us-open-cup*** for the most up to date listings and links to streaming broadcasts on Paramount+

Tuesday, April 14 (all times CT)

New England Revolution vs. Rhode Island FC – 6 p.m. (Paramount+)

Louisville City FC vs. Austin FC – 6 p.m. (CBS Sports Network/Paramount+)

Detroit City FC vs. Chicago Fire FC – 6:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Golazo Network/Paramount+)

Westchester SC vs. New York City FC – 6:30 p.m. (Paramount+)

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Sporting Kansas City – 7 p.m. (Paramount+)

Colorado Rapids vs. Union Omaha – 8:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network/Paramount+)

Sacramento Republic FC vs. Minnesota United FC – 9 p.m. (CBS Sports Golazo Network Paramount+)

Wednesday, April 15 (all times CT)

FC Naples vs. Orlando City SC – 6 p.m. (CBS Sports Network/Paramount+)

Chattanooga FC vs. Atlanta United FC – 6:30 p.m. (Paramount+)

Richmond Kickers vs. Columbus Crew – 6:30 p.m. (Paramount+)

Red Bull New York vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – 6:30 p.m. (Paramount+)

Charlotte FC vs. Charlotte Independence – 6:30 p.m. (Paramount+)

D.C. United vs. One Knoxville SC – 6:30 p.m. (Paramount+)

St. Louis CITY SC vs. FC Tulsa – 7 p.m. (Paramount+)

Houston Dynamo FC vs. El Paso Locomotive FC – 7 p.m. (Paramount+)

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Phoenix Rising FC – 9 p.m. (CBS Sports Golazo Network Paramount+)

The post Chicago Fire FC to Face Detroit City FC in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The 2025-26 NBA regular season is wrapping up in a few weeks and as expected, the Oklahoma City Thunder are again the favorites to win it all this year. If they do make a run, it will be on the back of MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

The star guard is averaging 31.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game this season. He’s the front runner for the MVP award once again this year and has emerged as one of the best players in the league. But one NBA writer is taking it to a high level in terms of praise for the reining MVP and he is comparing him to the all-time GOAT.

Zach Lowe has Michael Jordan comparison for SGA

During a recent segment on “The Zach Lowe Show”, NBA writer Zach Lowe praised SGA and his ability to dominate games. He noted just how consistent he is in terms of the level of efficiency. Lowe made the case as to why SGA is his MVP.

From there, he brought up Jordan.

“I think Shai is the MVP. I don’t even care if the Spurs pass the Thunder,” Lowe said. ” … I think Shai, first of all—again, boring—he’s played 400 more minutes than Wembanyama. That’s a lot of minutes, and he’s doing that without playing fourth quarters in like 20 games because they’re ahead by so many. They both elevate their teams—Wembanyama’s on-off is from neutral to incredible, Shai’s on-off is from pretty good to incredible. The incredible part matters more to me than where the off-court number is. It’s like, are you elevating your team to, ‘Holy sh**, this is a machine’? That’s Shai.

“Clutch numbers are outrageous, and this is Jordan, but in the modern era. That’s how good he is offensively, and I just think you put all that together, he’s the MVP for me.”

There’s no doubt SGA is playing at a high level again this year. He’s aiming to be the first player to win MVP in consecutive seasons since Nikola Jokic in 2021 and 2022.

But Lowe’s words didn’t sit well with everyone.

Lowe is crazy overrated

— Floydian Slip (@OliveOil6000) April 1, 2026

this era is weak compared to 80's and 90's. You can not compare player's. People are dumb

— Nmad (@NolanMader7571) April 1, 2026

It’s tough to compare eras because they are so different. But it’s certainly a big compliment for SGA to be compared to the GOAT.

The post NBA writer compares MVP to Michael Jordan appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox are coming off three-straight seasons of 100-plus losses and are hoping 2026 goes differently. While they went from 121 losses to 102 from 2024 to 2025, there is some hope for the future in terms of prospects. They also have the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft.

But through the first week of the season, the White Sox are 1-5 and were swept in the first series in Milwaukee. They followed it up by losing the series down in Miami. A big reason why? Pitching. The pitching for the White Sox has been really bad this season, allowing 52 total runs compared to the 21 that they have scored on offense.

And it’s the worst pitching staff in baseball at the moment.

White Sox pitching has been MLB worst

Looking at the stats, the White Sox are dead last in earned run average through the first week of the season at 8.63. The next closest at No. 29? The Philadelphia Phillies with a 5.46 ERA.

Ouch.

It’s all been bad for the White Sox on the pitching side of things, including starter Shane Smith. In his latest start on Wednesday against the Marlins, Smith gave up eight hits, eight runs with seven earned, two walks and just one strikeout in three innings. That came after a bad start in the season opener against the Milwaukee Brewers as well.

What is going on with Shane Smith????

Through 3 innings:
8 hits
8 runs (7 earned)
2 walks
1 strikeout

Season ERA & WHIP: 19.29 & 3.21

Is it time to hit the panic button!? pic.twitter.com/o9xrxK9mZR

— SleeperWhiteSox (@SleeperWhiteSox) April 1, 2026

Overall, it’s been a nightmare start for the White Sox as they have also given up 65 hits which leads the majors. It doesn’t get much easier, either. The Toronto Blue Jays come to town this weekend for the team’s home opener and first series at Guaranteed Rate this season.

If the White Sox really want to improve, they need to figure out how to get this pitching staff back on track and do it quickly.

The post Chicago White Sox off to MLB-worst start with pitching appeared first on ChiCitySports.

After an impressive 2025 season with the Chicago Cubs, Matthew Boyd earned the right to be the team’s opening day starter. He’s leading what is considered one of the top pitching staffs in the national league. But Boyd’s season got off to a rocky start.

In the opener against the Washington Nationals, Boyd only lasted 3.2 innings. He gave up six hits and six runs in the game along with one walk in the game. That ballooned his ERA to 14.73 after just one start.

But then Wednesday happened and he made his second start of the season, this time against the Los Angeles Angels.

Matthew Boyd responds with big outing

Boyd was much better on Wednesday against the Angels, going 5.2 innings allowing just two hits, and one earned run. The biggest thing? He was getting swings and misses as he struck out 10 batters.

Following the game, he earned praise from his manager Craig Counsell.

“He established the change up really well early,” Counsell said on Wednesday after the game. “He played the front and back game, he was able to get strikeouts with the fastball and change up essentially. Just being in zone and competitive with the change up, really set him up as he went through the lineup the second time. He pitched really, really well. The swing-and-miss in both starts is always encouraging.”

It was a cold day with the wind blowing in, but Boyd did look like the 2025 version of himself. That’s encouraging for the Cubs who already got strong starts from Cade Horton and Edward Cabrera this season.

If Boyd can get better as the season goes on, the Cubs really could have one of the best rotations in all of baseball this season.

The post Matthew Boyd responds with strong outing in Chicago Cubs’ win appeared first on ChiCitySports.

It’s been over 20 years since Michael Jordan retired from the game of basketball in 1993. But since then, he’s found other ways to stay busy including his successful NASCAR team in 23XI Racing.

He’s also raking in the money still.

Jordan made an estimated $250 million in 2025 just off of the Nike brand alone, which his Jordan Brand is under. That’s merchandise including shoes, clothes and more. With the $250 million, it helped Jordan keep his spot as the highest-paid athlete of all time per Sportico.

Michael Jordan beats out other athletes for highest-paid

When Sportico released its list of the highest-paid athletes of all-time, it wasn’t shocking to see Jordan at the top. But it was a little surprising to see how much he’s actually made. The site estimates that Jordan has made $4.5 billion when adjusted for inflation. Without the adjustment, he’s made $3.28 billion.

He’s atop the list beating out Tiger Woods, Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James and Lionel Messi who round out the top five. 

Michael Jordan earned more than any active or retired athlete in 2025, pushing his career-earnings to $4.5 BILLION.

MJ remains the highest-paid athlete of all-time. (via @Sportico) pic.twitter.com/yFTsKtg1ru

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 1, 2026

Jordan has been the leader on this list for quite some time now. But this year, he extended that lead over Woods from $850 million to $1.31 billion over the last year. This also comes as Jordan Brand revenue dropped by 16 percent in fiscal 2025. But even so, the brand generated $7.3 billion over that same time period. 

Jordan has a 3.4 percent cut in that and the brand generated 70 times more sales volume compared to other signature basketball lines.

NBA players dominated the list with a total of 13 athletes in the top 50. The rankings  do account for far more than just salaries as endorsements, media ventures, appearance fees and licensing deals are among the things factored in.

The post Michael Jordan tops list of highest-paid athletes of all-time appeared first on ChiCitySports.

As the NFL league meetings wrap up in Arizona this week, a hot topic was the Chicago Bears’ stadium situation. With no resolution yet, the team is eyeing two sites for the new stadium.

After buying the Arlington property, the Bears have yet to reach an agreement to build. Since then, they have also explored Northwest Indiana as a potential option for a stadium. While President Kevin Warren stated that the team would like to have a decision made sometime this spring or summer. That will likely come after the Illinois assembly closes May 31.

But is there a preference? We know most fans want the Bears to go to Arlington Heights if they don’t stay in Chicago (which is not happening). However, owner George McCaskey’s comments on Wednesday echo something interesting.

George McCaskey is comfortable with either site for Chicago Bears stadium

While speaking at the league meetings on Wednesday, McCaskey fielded several questions about the future stadium sites.  He told media members that the team is ‘comfortable’ with either site.

#Bears owner George McCaskey said the team is comfortable with either location for a new stadium.

— Michal Dwojak (@mdwojak94) April 1, 2026

That could just be normal speak with the media as McCaskey didn’t want to commit to either and potentially tip off plans. He also believes that he doesn’t think at the end of the day that it will matter to fans if the team moves its stadium to Hammond. He cited the New York Giants moving to New Jersey.

Now, there are examples of teams that don’t play in the city they are named after. But not many in terms of the state. It would feel weird for the Bears to go to Indiana despite that area being considered Chicagoland. I do think it would matter to the fans to start but maybe after time passes, things will calm down more.

It certainly feels like we will know the answer in the coming weeks.

The post George McCaskey is ‘comfortable’ with either location for new Chicago Bears stadium appeared first on ChiCitySports.

By now we know what the positions of need are for the Chicago Bears entering the 2026 NFL Draft. Most of those needs are on the defensive side of the football in terms of defensive tackle, an edge rusher and safety. But on the offensive side of the ball, the biggest one that stands out is left tackle.

It remains to be seen if the Bears address that issue or not. They have been doing their homework however.

Leading into the draft, the Bears are keeping an eye on several prospects. They are even looking at a position that may not be the biggest need but could have value on day two or day three.

The latest player to reveal he has a top 30 visit with Chicago is speedy Ole Miss receiver De’Zhaun Stribling.

Chicago Bears meeting with speedy receiver De’Zhaun Stribling

The 6-foot-2 wide receiver enters the draft after recording back-to-back 800-plus yard receiving seasons. He was a good receiver for the Rebels, helping them make a push in the College Football Player. The best part? He has speed which is something the Bears can add to this offense.

In a recent interview with Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated, he breaks down the interviews he’s had so far:

I had formal interviews at the NFL Combine with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, and Los Angeles Rams. I’ve had a ton of virtual meetings, I’ve met with a lot of teams virtually, like the Seahawks, Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers, and Tennessee Titans, earlier this week.

In person, I am going to visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, and New England Patriots.

Stribling is one of the known 30 visits for the Bears so far and the only wide receiver on the list currently. Chicago could look to add a speedy receiver like Stribling to the offense for more firepower, especially after they lost DJ Moore.

He also talked about his game and what makes him special.

My versatility is going to bring a lot to an NFL offense. I can play any receiver spot. That’s going to make me a huge asset. My speed, especially when I have the ball in my hands, makes me a threat in the open field.

I think my overall physicality goes a long way. I can block at a high level. My football IQ is off the charts. I’ve played in multiple offenses at different programs. I learned every playbook very quickly and was able to contribute.

Blocking? That is right up Ben Johnson’s alley.

The post Chicago Bears keeping tabs on speedy wide receiver appeared first on ChiCitySports.

As part of the Chicago Bulls’ trade deadline moves, they were able to acquire guard Jaden Ivey from the Detroit Pistons. It was a three-team deal involving the Minnesota Timberwolves as well. Chicago sent Kevin Huerter to Detroit in the deal and the hope was that they could take a chance on a guard like Ivey coming off his rookie contract.

The former Purdue standout only played four games with the Bulls, dealing with knee issues. While a return was expected to be on the table, the Bulls eventually shut Ivey down for the rest of the season. Then on Monday, following a few days of rants on social media about religion, the Bulls decided to release Ivey after he called the LGBTQ+ community unrighteous.

Ivey posted a message saying ‘‘The world proclaims LGBTQ, right? They proclaim Pride Month and the NBA does too, they show it to the world. They say, ‘Come join us for Pride Month to celebrate unrighteousness.’ ’’

With the Bulls in San Antonio, they made the decision to move on from him releasing a statement as well as having Billy Donovan talk on the matter. The Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley wrote that it was more than just the recent messages but more so the past month of posts and comments.

Josh Giddey speaks on former teammate Jaden Ivey

Following Monday’s loss to the Spurs, Josh Giddey was asked about what had happened earlier in the day with Ivey. He kept it professional.

‘‘Obviously, the whole thing is kind of unfortunate in a way,” Giddey said. “I hope he gets the help he needs, whatever he’s going through or not going through. I do really hope he gets help. It’s not going to be with the Bulls anymore, but wherever it is, I hope he gets it.’’

Social media has gone back and forth on the matter with people sharing their opinion. But it’s clear that his teammates and others want him to get the help that he needs.

The post Josh Giddey comments on Jaden Ivey situation with Chicago Bulls appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs went out and bolstered the starting pitching rotation by acquiring Edward Cabrera this offseason from the Miami Marlins. It cost the Cubs top prospect, Owen Caissie who is off to a hot start this season. But if Cabrera pitches like he did in his debut on Monday, the trade will pay off.

The starter went six innings, struck out five batters and allowed just one hit and one walk in his debut. He quickly won over the Wrigley Field faithful as he mowed down the Los Angeles Angels lineup, helping the Cubs get their second win of the season. After a tough weekend in which the Cubs lost the series to Washington, they needed an outing like this.

That was especially true after both Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga struggled in their starts to open the season. Following the start, Cabrera earned some praise not only from his teammates but from a former Cubs slugger as well.

Cliff Floyd believes Edward Cabrera has no-hit stuff

Following the Cubs win over the Angels, Cliff Floyd had nothing but praise for Cabrera on the team’s postgame show on Marquee Network. He went through Cabrera’s outing, pointing out some positive stuff.

“He didn’t shake off Carson [Kelly] once, he was in rhythm, he was in a flow. It allowed him to get deep into the ball game. I’m serious, he’s going to throw a no-hitter,” Floyd said. “If he can keep this stuff up and stay healthy, a no-hitter is gonna go under his belt at some point.”

It was certainly an impressive outing for Cabrera in his first start at Wrigley Field. Floyd has some good points too about how he was able to get into a flow of the game and pitch the six innings.

With teams monitoring pitch counts now, no-hitters are becoming even more rare. That would be an obstacle for Cabrera in Floyd’s prediction. However, you have to be encouraged by his first start as a member of the Cubs and what it could mean for this rotation moving forward.

The post Former Cubs slugger predicts big achievement is in Edward Cabrera’s future appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears’ stadium saga continues on as the franchise is focusing on two spots. One of those sites is the old Arlington Racetrack which the Bears purchased a few years ago. But as of recently, the Bears have begun to explore a site in Northwest Indiana.

While Chicago has put out statements for both sites, they have yet to commit to one. Now, there are some factors involved in terms of why the Bears haven’t picked a site just yet. But for President Kevin Warren, he envisions the franchise making a decision very soon.

Kevin Warren updates Chicago Bears’ stadium timeline

With the NFL in Phoenix this week for the annual league meetings, Warren is there and is making the media rounds early. He appeared on ProFootballTalk with Chris Simms and Mike Florio. Among the things they discussed was the ongoing stadium saga for the Bears.

During the interview, he revealed a potential timeline set for this Spring.

“We have the legislation passed in Indiana, and they’ve been a great partner to work with,” Warren said. “We are going through legitimate due diligence because we have working through traffic, and construction items, and transportation and all those kinds of different things. It’s progressing right on pace.

“Illinois, they’re still working on legislation and we have a wonderful piece of land in Arlington Heights — 326 acres. So we don’t have a set deadline, but I am confident that sometime this spring/summer, we’ll know.”

The Bears are committed to building a world-class environment with a fixed roof Warren said. That will allow them to host multiple other events throughout the year, earning more revenue. The only hiccup seems to be where the stadium site will actually be.

Warren also ruled out any potential chance the team would stay in the city of Chicago.

“We strongly believe the only site in the state of Illinois and Cook County is Arlington Heights,” Warren said. “Because when you see that property, having 326 acres with the train station there, the things that we would be able to do — there are some great sites, we talked a couple of years ago about doing something at the Museum campus. There was not an appetite at that point in time there. And there are some other sites that just don’t fit.”

Time will tell which location they choose.

The post Kevin Warren provides update to Chicago Bears stadium timeline appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bulls are officially eliminated from playoff contention this season and with seven games left, the focus shifts to the offseason. Chicago is currently ninth in the NBA draft lottery with a 20.4 percent chance to get into the top four.

With this being considered a loaded draft, it’s a great opportunity for the Bulls to land a potential future star. But the future of head coach Billy Donovan is up in the air as well.

Reports last week surfaced that Donovan could resign at the end of this season. Then days later, Donovan was connected to the open North Carolina job. That momentum continues to pick up as well.

Billy Donovan is the better favorite on prediction markets for UNC job

As North Carolina’s coach search rolls on, we do know that Donovan’s name has been brought up in connection with the job. North Carolina has been pretty quiet but the top two candidates are rumored to be Michigan’s Dusty May and Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd. As both are going to the Final Four, UNC will have to wait a bit.

But for Donovan, they may not have to wait long. Depending on who you ask, there’s belief that Donovan would take the job if offered. Prediction markets are leaning towards Donovan as the favorite.

As of right now, when this is being published, Donovan is at 32 percent chance on Kalshi, “North Carolina Basketball – Next Head Coach” prediction. Oddly enough, Rick Pitino is second at 29 percent along with Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd.

Now, this is just a prediction market and as The Athletic writes, here’s why it’s interesting:

We’re talking about Kalshi because prediction markets are open to more speculative topics than their highly regulated cousins, sportsbooks, which are often precluded, or even reluctant, from offering markets that are so vulnerable to insider information.

Traditional sportsbooks don’t usually offer odds on speculative storylines or on what group chats are discussing, such as who will be a team’s next coach or where a player will be traded, whereas prediction markets tend to target exactly those topics. Whether they are accurate is more of an open question. (And also opens up a philosophical debate of the meaning of “accurate,” i.e., they are “accurate” about what people think is going to happen, but may not be accurate on the final result.)

It doesn’t mean that Donovan will be the head coach. It could change as the money comes in on the site as well. But it is notable that Donovan is leading the way here with this market.

This storyline will be something to watch the rest of the offseason.

The post Prediction markets favoring Billy Donovan for this top college job appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Following a historic career in the NBA, Michael Jordan has found ways to stay busy off the court. His latest venture has brought him more success as he co-owns 23XI Racing team.

With driver Tyler Reddick winning four races early this NASCAR season, the spotlight is on 23XI Racing as well as Jordan himself. Ahead of Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at the Martinsville Speedway, Jordan sat down with CBS Morning News’ Gayle King to discuss his role with NASCAR.

Among the subjects they talked about was the GOAT conversation. King asked Jordan if he believes there is room for more than one Greatest of All Time in the sport of basketball. His answer was a little surprising.

Michael Jordan addresses the ‘GOAT’ debate in recent interview

As King asked the question, she mentions that Jordan is considered the GOAT in the game of basketball. But would Jordan be open to adding another GOAT in the conversation?

To Jordan, he doesn’t believe in the “GOAT” talk:

“There’s no such thing as the G.O.A.T. Not to me,” Jordan said in the interview. “It’s only because we are transcended from other people, other athletes. We learn from other athletes. We progress the game as we move further. To say that one is better than the other is not really right.”

Michael Jordan says there’s no such thing as THE GOAT during his interview with Gayle King via @CBSMornings pic.twitter.com/QcYkYyzYQz

— 2Cool2Blog (@2Cool2Blog) March 29, 2026

Of course, the GOAT talk usually centers around Jordan as well as LeBron James. Neither really talk about it at all and it’s usually just the topic of fans, TV shows, radio shows, etc. However, with how competitive Jordan is not only in basketball and in NASCAR, I imagine he sometimes uses it for motivation still and that burning desire of competition he’s always had.

The post Michael Jordan addresses GOAT debate during interview appeared first on ChiCitySports.

If you didn’t notice by now, it’s clear that Michael Jordan is competitive. He’s competitive with a lot of things too. Now, that’s spilling over into his love for racing as he co-owns 23XI Racing and is making waves on the NASCAR scene.

For Jordan, he took a lot of things personal during his playing career in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls. And you could see that when “The Last Dance” documentary aired back in 2020. It got to the point where he would even make up scenarios to motivate himself and take it out on opponents.

The latest example, however, involves his race team and the NASCAR lawsuit from a few months back.

Michael Jordan says NASCAR lawsuit was ‘personal’ to him

It’s rare to see Jordan do many interviews these days. He did appear on the NBA on NBC for a few segments but that was one interview broken down into multiple airings. But the latest comes on Friday when he sat down with Gayle King on CBS Morning News. Jordan spoke on his NASCAR experience, including the lawsuit.

To no one’s surprise, he admitted that he took that lawsuit personal.

“Yes, 100 percent,” Jordan said when asked if his intention was to change NASCAR. “When I got into the sport, obviously, as I learned there was a lot of things I wasn’t really happy about. The sport was not setup long term for the individuals involved with the sport. Now, up top? Yep. They were making a good living. The people that were putting on the show were not getting the type of recognition or compensated fairly.”

Jordan also said that even if they didn’t win the lawsuit, his goal was to wake up some people. That he did.  Jordan did admit he was nervous when he had to take the stand but knew they had a good case.

And that’s when he went all in.

“I was all in,” Jordan said. “I was aggressively gonna win, you know. I became a competitor all over again.”

Jordan’s killer mentality never left, it just changed sports. What he’s doing for NASCAR is awesome and settling with NASCAR to provide changes was huge for the sport.

The post Michael Jordan admits NASCAR lawsuit was ‘personal’ for him appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The 2026 MLB season is finally here following Wednesday night’s showcase on Netflix between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants. But for the Chicago Cubs, they held Opening Day on Thursday at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs dropped the opener to the Washington Nationals, falling to 0-1 on the year. It was a shaky start for Ben Brown who was cruising before allowing seven total runs. But before the game, another story regarding Cubs pitching broke from the offseason.

One of Chicago’s needs this offseason was more bullpen help. They almost got it too in the form of former All-Star closer Devin Williams who eventually signed with the New York Mets. However, the Cubs were very much in on Williams per a new report.

Chicago Cubs were outbid for Devin Williams, other relievers

The 31-year-old Williams is now a member of the Mets, signing a three-year deal there this offseason. Prior to that, he was traded by Milwaukee to the New York Yankees last offseason. But Chicago almost had a chance to land him as Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma wrote in The Athletic on Thursday:

The Cubs made a three-year offer to All-Star closer Devin Williams but did not come close to the $51 million that the New York Mets guaranteed. The Mets and Philadelphia Phillies also outbid the Cubs for relievers Luke Weaver and Brad Keller, who each landed two-year, $22 million contracts from those respective NL contenders.

Along with Williams, the report states that the Cubs were also outbid for relievers Luke Weaver and Brad Keller. That’s tough to hear.

The Cubs’ bullpen will be in the spotlight once again this season and on Thursday they saw Boyd give up six earned runs while Ben Brown gave up two. If Chicago’s pitching struggles, it could be a long year for them.

The post REPORT: Chicago Cubs were outbid for All-Star closer this offseason appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bulls are heading towards another season of failing to actually make the playoffs. It’s another offseason of a rebuild  but they aren’t bad enough to realistically get in the top four or five in the draft.

Instead, the Bulls sit at 9th in the lottery and won’t catch the Memphis Grizzlies for 8th. They are destined to be 9th or 10th when the lottery selection happens, putting a damper on their chances to land a star in this draft. With Chicago making some moves at the deadline, it signaled the rebuild.

However, there’s news regarding one of those trades and it’s not good news.

Chicago Bulls rule out Jaden Ivey and Jalen Smith

Following a loss in which the Bulls were on the wrong side of history, they have some more bad news. The team announced on Thursday that Jalen Smith and Jaden Ivey are both out for the rest of the season.

Ivey suffered an injury a few weeks back and was expected to return on the upcoming road trip. However, he suffered a setback and the knee is bothering him even more now. That’s disappointing news as Ivey was a piece in a trade for the Bulls as they sent Ayo Dosunmu to Minnesota in a three-team deal.

He played in just four games for the Bulls this season.

For Smith, he aggravated his right calf in the loss to the 76ers. The 26-year-old averaged 10.2 points and 6.7 rebounds in 53 games (21 starts) this season.

The post Chicago Bulls rule out two players for rest of the season appeared first on ChiCitySports.

MLB’s Opening Day is almost here as a new season is on the horizon. For the Chicago Cubs, they are coming off a season in which they earned a berth to the Wild Card round, beating the San Diego Padres before falling to the Milwaukee Brewers.

After another active offseason with the additions of Alex Bregman and pitcher Edward Cabrera, the Cubs have their sights on winning the NL Central and then more.

With the season approaching, there’s an interesting trend regarding the Cubs and their chances this season.

Chicago Cubs are among teams people are betting on to win World Series

Going into this season, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the clear favorites to win the World Series. The Dodgers are looking to three-peat this season and with the addition of Kyle Tucker, they loaded up on offense again.

As of now, the Dodgers are +220 to win the World Series with the New York Yankees (+1000), New York Mets (+1200), Seattle Mariners (+1300), Toronto Blue Jays (+1400), Boston Red Sox (+1600), Philadelphia Phillies (+1600) and then the Cubs (+1800). However, the public is betting a lot on the Cubs to win the World Series this year.

Per Bet MGM, the Cubs are the second-most bet team in the National League to win the World Series:

The NL team drawing the second-most bets and money to win the World Series at @BetMGM, trailing only the Dodgers:

The Chicago Cubs pic.twitter.com/lzgEqQnc3l

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) March 23, 2026

That’s interesting seeing that the Cubs odds in the NL are behind the Dodgers, Mets and Phillies already. But if you’re confident in the Cubs, it may not be that bad of a bet.

It’s clear the Dodgers are the favorites right now, and rightfully so. But over a 162-game regular season and then the postseason, anything can happen.

The post Chicago Cubs among most bet team to win World Series? appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The past 36 hours or so have been interesting for the Chicago Bulls and head coach Billy Donovan. After a report from the Chicago Sun-Times hinted that Donovan could resign from the franchise, the head coach was then connected to the open North Carolina job.

Donovan continues to be a hot name in North Carolina’s new coaching search. Whether he’s seriously interested or is a legit candidate is still to be determined. But even with this news, players hear it. On Wednesday, the Bulls responded with a historically bad quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers.

And it wasn’t pretty.

Chicago Bulls, Billy Donovan make history in a bad way

We know the Bulls are in a rebuild. They did it too late, which means probably another few more years of struggling. Will Donovan want to be a part of that? The team certainly looked disinterested in Wednesday’s loss to the 76ers.

In that loss, the Bulls gave up a franchise record 51 points in the third quarter. They eventually lost the game 157-137, giving up the most points they have all season.

76ers 157, Bulls 137

Bulls never led, allowed a franchise-record 51 points in the 3rd and allowed their most points in a game this season

Giddey 1 rebound shy of triple double
Bulls scored franchise-record 52 in 4th

Embiid 35 pts
George 28 pts

— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) March 26, 2026

Yikes.

Wednesday’s game may not have fully been a response to the Donovan rumors but this team flat out looked bad. Piling up the loses is usually a good thing for a team trying to get into the lottery. The only problem? The Bulls are going to be sitting 9th or 10th due to them winning early games this season.

It’s unlikely the Bulls can get to the 8th spot in the lottery and it looks like they will need a miracle to move up. Add in a potential looming decision from Donovan and it’s shaping up to be another interesting offseason.

The post Chicago Bulls respond to Billy Donovan rumors with historically bad third quarter in loss appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bulls are heading for another offseason with a pick outside of the top four in the NBA Draft and another year of a rebuild. Even with Chicago trading off key pieces at the deadline, it was a little too late.

As the season winds down, a report from Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times stated that there’s growing belief that Billy Donovan could resign this year. Donovan has been with the team since the 2020 season and has been here for this version of the rebuild.

With the North Carolina job open, Donovan is already being connected to that job. And the latest report suggests that he is being advised to get out of Chicago.

Billy Donovan is being advised to get out of Chicago Bulls situation

After the Tar Heels decided to move on from Hubert Davis, Jeff Goodman of the Field of 68 offered his take on candidates. He mentioned Donovan as someone who UNC could look at. But he took it a step further.

Goodman stated that there are people around Donovan advising him to get out of the Bulls’ situation.

“I was texting with Billy Donovan earlier… He’s got a lucrative contract with the Bulls right now. But there are a ton of people in his circle that have told him to get out of there”

"I was texting with Billy Donovan earlier… He's got a lucrative contract with the Bulls right now, but there are a ton of people in his circle that have told him to get out of there"@GoodmanHoops on the North Carolina search

: https://t.co/Cm0rEC8no0 pic.twitter.com/G7JZNbvdWC

— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 25, 2026

Donovan found success at the college level, winning back-to-back national championships with Florida. But he hasn’t coached in the college game since the 2014-15 season. Goodman also stated that Donovan is a loyal guy and is in the middle of his contract with the Bulls. It feels like it would have to be a mutual agreement between himself and Jerry Reinsdorf.

The head coach is already being connected to that UNC job with an ESPN report suggesting the Tar Heels are going to “aggressively pursue him” in the coaching search.

The post Billy Donovan being advised to get out of Chicago per report appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The biggest news story of the free agent cycle was the failed trade of Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders to the Baltimore Ravens. After Baltimore agreed to trade two first-round picks for Crosby, they brought him in to check the medicals.

In the end, they backed out of the trade ahead of the new league year.

Crosby returned to Las Vegas where he was there the next morning to get his rehab in for his injury and appears to be committed to the Raiders. He even did a podcast to break down the situation. But that doesn’t mean teams aren’t interested still.

For now, Crosby is still a member of the Raiders. But a new report on Tuesday states that teams are still inquiring about the star pass rusher. The price is just too high still.

Price is likely too high for Chicago Bears with Maxx Crosby

As we are two weeks past the start of free agency, Ryan McFadden of ESPN provided an update on the Crosby situation:

“Teams continue to check in on his availability,” McFadden writes, “but as of now, the Raiders’ asking price to trade Crosby’s contract remains high.”

That confirms an earlier report that stated the Raiders did not want to lower the price despite concerns about the knee. The Raiders want to stay firm with the price which is why he hasn’t been moved yet.

For the Chicago Bears, general manager Ryan Poles admitted that the team was involved in a way with Crosby. But reading between the lines, it makes sense that Poles didn’t get fully involved in terms of the price. Paying two first-round picks for Crosby may not be the smartest decision for the Bears who have many needs.

As long as the price stays the same from the Raiders, don’t expect Chicago to get involved again.

The post REPORT: Las Vegas Raiders’ price for Maxx Crosby is still too high for Chicago Bears appeared first on ChiCitySports.

On Monday night news broke that the Chicago Cubs and center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong were finalizing a long-term contract extension. Now, just under 24 hours later, that deal is finalized.

Per Jeff Passan of ESPN, the two sides have agreed on a six-year, $115 million contract extension. The deal starts in 2027 and does not include a club option,which is rare these days. In the end, the two sides were able to hammer out a deal to keep the star center fielder in Chicago for the long term.

That’s not only a win for the Cubs and Crow-Armstrong but for the fan base as well.

Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a six-year, $115 million contract extension, sources tell ESPN. The deal starts in 2027 and does not include a club option, allowing Crow-Armstrong to hit free agency before his age-31 season.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 24, 2026

As Passan notes, no club option is rare:

“This is by far the biggest guarantee for a player with five years of club control that doesn’t include an option. Cubs were still fine with it. They get a high-floor player with superstar ceiling,” Passan said in a follow up tweet.

Crow-Armstrong will turn 24 on Wednesday ahead of Opening Day for the Cubs. He’s considered a key piece to the team’s core and will now be here for the long haul as the Cubs continue to build out this roster.

Last season, Crow-Armstrong hit .247/.287/.481 with 31 home runs and 95 RBI’s. While he struggled in the second half of the season, his defense was still elite which helped the Cubs in their push to the playoffs.

The post Chicago Cubs, Pete Crow-Armstrong finalize contract extension appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Blackhawks are wrapping up another season in a rebuild as they enter Tuesday’s game with 65 points, tied for second-worst in the league. While the Blackhawks are struggling this season, the future is looking bright in terms of the rebuild.

And now, fans will get a look at the organization’s top prospect right away.

Chicago decided to call up top prospect Anton Frondell who was playing in the Swedish League Playoffs this past weekend. Once his team was eliminated, he made his way to the team and now he’s ready for his debut.

Anton Frondell to debut against Islanders

After the call up, Frondell is now expected to play on Tuesday and will do so on the top line with Connor Bedard. This comes nine months after he was taken with the third overall pick in the draft.

For Bedard, he’s excited to play alongside Frondell.

“It’s great,” said Bedard via ESPN. “Just throw him in there and give him the minutes, power play and just have him in the same role he was playing in all year.”

This isn’t a case of rushing up a prospect too soon, either. The Blackhawks need to see what they have and it’s clear that Frondell has done enough for Jeff Blashill to bring him up.

If you’re wondering what to expect from Frondell, here was the scouting report for him following the draft selection:

After registering 0.86 points per game in the Allsvenskan, Frondell is without peer among U18 players at that level of hockey. His per-game production outpaces that of William Nylander, David Pastrnak and Filip Forsberg at the same age. He had another seven points in the playoffs as Djugården earned promotion to the SHL.

So why isn’t he a lock to go in the top five? Frondell, oddly enough, underwhelmed against his own age group and early-season injuries knocked him out of some of the biggest competitions.

When he is at his best, Frondell is a hard-driving forward who can get to the interior and score goals. He is committed to two-way ability and physicality to impose his will on games. Which is why a lot of us were perplexed as to why we didn’t see that regularly with his own age group. The inconsistency is a concern, but his best games are better than most other players in this draft, which in a weaker draft year is worth betting on, in my estimation.

The season might be disappointing, but it will be exciting for fans to see Bedard and Frondell play together.

The post Top Chicago Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell set to debut at Islanders appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Tyler Reddick is off to a hot start this NASCAR season, winning four of the first six races. That included opening up the season with three-straight wins beginning with the Daytona 500.

Reddick and his 23XI Racing teammate Bubba Wallace currently sit 1-2 in the points standings right now and are in great shape for the playoffs. With the hot start, Reddick has been the talk of the NASCAR world as has 23XI Racing. But what’s the future hold for them?

By going out and racing this well, the talks have now turned to a potential contract extension for Reddick. However, fans shouldn’t worry about it not getting done as co-owner Denny Hamlin hinted at.

Denny Hamlin provides positive update about Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing

During the latest episode of Actions Detrimental, Hamlin was asked about Reddick’s contract extension and the future of him with the race team. He left no doubt when answering the question.

“That will be done soon,” Denny Hamlin said about Tyler Reddick’s new contract. “He deserves everything he gets. He’s just done a phenomenal job.”

Reddick signed with 23XI Racing in July of 2022 with plans for him to join in 2024. But the team had other ideas as they bought out the rest of his contract to have him join the team. Since then, Reddick has been fantastic with the team and if his 2026 season is any indication for how the rest of his career can go, then fans should certainly be excited.

Hamlin was the key piece in bringing him over to the team after racing against him as well as keeping his eye on him. He knew the potential he had and knew he had to get him.

The post Denny Hamlin provides update on Tyler Reddick’s future with 23XI Racing appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are prepping for the start of the MLB season on Thursday, hosting the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field. Coming off a season in which they won the Wild Card round but then fell short in the divisional round, the Cubs are looking to make a run at the NL Central.

But before the season begins, the Cubs are attempting to lock up a core player.

On Monday, Jeff Passan reported that the Cubs and outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong are close to a long-term extension. We don’t have the official numbers on the deal just yet but it’s great news that the Cubs are locking up a core player. Crow-Armstrong being here for the long-term is great news as it shows the Cubs are serious about spending.

However, one MLB insider is looking at another future deal in order for them to prove that they can spend like a big market team.

Ken Rosenthal points to Nico Hoerner for Cubs to prove they can spend like a big market

The Cubs still have a big decision to make on another core player — Nico Hoerner. The infielder is quietly one of the best second basemen in all of baseball year after year. He’s a core piece in the infield that the Cubs can continue to build around. With Hoerner’s contract running up at the end of the 2026 season, the Cubs need to get something done here.

While appearing on “Foul Territory” Ken Rosenthal was asked if this extension signifies maybe the Cubs are going to spend more. In his answer, he pointed to Hoerner’s situation for them to prove it.

“I don’t know that this signals a commitment by the Cubs as much as the Bregman deal did. The next test for them will be Nico Hoerner,” Rosenthal said. “Hoerner is a free agent after this season. He is another palyer who has great value in part because of his defense. He is a guy that they consider, the players, the coaches, everyone within the organization to be really part of their fabric. So do they re-sign Nico Hoerner? The Cubs, still to me have some work to do to prove they can spend like a big market team. . . Nico Hoerner, that will be a better test.”

Cubs fans have been clamoring for the team to spend like a big market team for years. The additions of Bregman and now the extension of Crow-Armstrong were steps forward.

Now, they need to go lock up another key piece of their core.

The post Insider believes Chicago Cubs have ‘more work to do’ to prove they can spend as big market appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The first two weeks of the NFL’s free agency period is in the books and for the Chicago Bears, there are still some holes on he roster to address. With Chicago’s cap situation, they don’t have much to spend in terms of free agents.

They will likely make some moves to free up some cap space but is there a move to make to address a big need?

NFL.com’s Matt Okada went through the biggest needs for each team, for the Bears he listed secondary. He also had a solution for the Bears to fix that secondary and it includes making a few moves, like a trade for a veteran.

Analyst urges Chicago Bears to trade for a veteran

In Okada’s piece, his solution for the Bears is to draft a safety at No. 25 overall to pair with Coby Bryant. He also wants the Bears to trade for a veteran at defensive back to pair along with Jaylon Johnson. After the Bears lost Nahshon Wright, they need to find some depth at the position.

“It’s probably going to take several more moves, as Chicago needs to not just patch the holes but improve its defense to compete for the division again in 2026,” Okada wrote. “Many mocks have the Bears addressing the defensive line with their first-round pick (No. 25 overall), but drafting Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren there would be a strong addition to the secondary rebuild. An aggressive trade for a starting DB also wouldn’t hurt: I’d make calls for guys like Denzel Ward, Marlon Humphrey, Riley Moss and Budda Baker.”

Those are all very interesting names but do they make sense for the Bears? Ward would be an upgrade over what the Bears have now in Tyrique Stevenson who struggled again last season. Terell Smith is set to return after missing all of last year but will he be able to be counted on?

If Chicago does want to solve that rather than drafting a defensive back, it would work out. But something tells me they will stand pat and look at the draft to fill the void.

The post Chicago Bears urged to trade for key position ahead of 2026 NFL Draft appeared first on ChiCitySports.

MLB’s Opening Day is this week and on Monday, the Chicago Cubs made a flurry of moves to cut their roster down ahead of the start of the season. While the injury news to Seiya Suzuki and Ben Brown making the roster stole the headlines, one move went under the radar.

The MLB transactions page shows that the Cubs have officially optioned outfielder Kevin Alcantara to Triple-A Iowa. He joins Javier Assad who was also optioned down to Iowa earlier in the day.

Why the Chicago Cubs optioned Kevin Alcantara

The 23-year-old Alcantara had a solid shot at making the Opening Day roster but the concern was lack of playing time. Michael Conforto made the team and with the report of the Cubs looking to add another infielder, it left Alcantara as the odd man out.

The good news? Down in Iowa he can start every day and get key playing time this season. From there, he can join the big league club with a call up at some point.

Last season Alcantara hit .266/.349/.470 in Iowa, disappointing numbers. However, he did play better as the season went on and entered Spring Training as a guy who could breakout for the Cubs. Maybe more time down in the minors can help him get his confidence back moving forward.

The post Chicago Cubs option top outfield prospect to Iowa appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant achieved another milestone this past week as he climbed up the NBA’s scoring list. Durant passed Michael Jordan for fifth all-time on the NBA scoring list with 32,294 points to Jordan’s 32,292.

The 37-year-old Durant has been efficient throughout his long NBA career which spans across 18 years. He’s been one of the best pure scorers in the league ever since he entered out of Texas. As Durant splashed a three-pointer from the corner to pass Jordan, it showcased his skill set once again. And now, he’s praising Jordan for being an inspiration to his career.

Kevin Durant praises Michael Jordan

While Durant grew up in the DC area and was a lifelong Bullets/Wizards fan, he appreciated the 90’s era of basketball. He went back to a playoff series in the first round of the 1997 Eastern Conference Playoffs where he saw Jordan live for the first time:

“I want to say late ’90s, but I can remember watching a playoff game versus the Bullets, so it had to be like ’96-’97, cause we were still the Bullets. That was like my first live game watching MJ. Of course, I’ve seen highlights on TV and stuff, but just sitting there watching him play. I mean, that’s all you watched. It was like a solo cam was on him. His presence is, and then the stories around him, from everybody else, the basketball world in general just made everything he did bigger than life,” Durant reflected in an exclusive interview with the Boardroom.

Durant has previously praised Jordan before, telling The Athletic that MJ has always been his inspiration. So to pass one of his idols on the scoring list, it had to be a special moment for him.

Since Durant went No. 2 overall to the Seattle Supersonics in the 2007 NBA Draft, he’s averaged least 25 points per game in 17 of his 18 NBA seasons. His longevity is impressive as is but at in the scoring and he’s en-route to a no-doubt Hall of Fame selection one day.

The post Kevin Durant praises Michael Jordan after passing him on NBA scoring list appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Fire star Hugo Cuypers is off to a hot start in the 2026 MLS season. With five matches completed already, Cuypers has four goals and has scored in four-straight matches for the Fire.

Now, his latest performance is earning him an honor.

The forward was named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 5 following his goal-scoring performance in Saturday’s 2-1 victory draw against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa.

The Belgian striker earned his first appearance on the MLS Team of the Matchday in 2026 following his opening goal in first half stoppage time. Defender Andrew Gutman got on the end of a deflected ball from Robin Lod on the left wing, then sent a perfect cross for Cuypers to head past Union goalkeeper Andre Blake. He later went on to record a secondary assist in Jonathan Bamba’s game-winning goal – only his second game-winning assist in league play.

The honor is Cuypers’ fifth in his third season with the Fire and first since Matchday 17 of the 2025 season. This is also the second time he earns the distinction following a goal-scoring performance against the Union; his first also earned him Chicago’s last MLS Player of the Matchday award, when he had his first multi-goal match with the Men in Red in a 4-3 comeback win over Philadelphia on July 3, 2024.

MLS Team of the Matchday

F: Logan Farrington (DAL), Sam Surridge (NSH), Hugo Cuypers (CHI)
M: Ender Echenique (CIN), Paxten Aaronson (COL), Pep Biel (CLT), Cristian Espinoza (NSH)
D: Ryan Porteous (LAFC), Gonzalo Luján (MIA), Walker Zimmerman (TOR)
GK: Daniel (SJ)

Coach: B.J. Callaghan (NSH)

Bench:James Pantemis (POR), Nouhou (SEA), Daniel Edelman (STL), Beau Leroux (SJ), Guilherme (HOU), Prince Owusu (MTL), Lionel Messi (MIA), Archie Goodwin (CLT), Rafael Navarro (COL)

Chicago returns to the lakefront to take on Nashville SC on Saturday, April 4, following a week off for the FIFA international break. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT. The match will be broadcast globally on Apple TV. It will be transmitted locally on wlsam.com, Uforia by TREBEL app and 106.7 FM HD2.

The post Hugo Cuypers Selected to MLS Team of the Matchday appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were a dynamic duo on the basketball court, helping deliver six NBA titles for the Chicago Bulls in the 90’s. But since then, the relationship between the two has certainly strained.

While neither have fully come out and said it, there’s certainly a feud between the two sides. That was ignited when Jordan’s son dated Pippen’s ex-wife Larsa recently before breaking up. The two haven’t been together in a long time with Pippen skipping out on the NBA’s 75th anniversary event just a few years ago. The release of “The Last Dance” also fueled this feud some more but things have been quiet in terms of the feud.

That is until now.

Scottie Pippen appears to take dig at Michael Jordan

Pippen appears in a new commercial for Mr. Pibb, promoting the soda with a unique angle of being “second best”. Pibb is referring to being similar to Dr. Pepper but never getting the shine. And you can see where this is going……

“When something has been considered second-best for so long, we just blindly accept it as gospel,” Pippen says in the commercial. “A decade-long plot built on marketing, social media and multi-part documentaries.”

Scottie Pippen disses Michael Jordan in a new soda commercial:

“When something has been considered second-best for so long, we just blindly accept it as gospel.”

“A decade-long plot built on marketing, social media and multi-part documentaries.”

pic.twitter.com/GVMn62Uc5h

— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod (@big_business_) March 23, 2026

There’s no direct reference to Jordan but it’s clear who Pippen is talking about and what the commercial is aiming for. He ends it by saying “Pipp is the GOAT” while doing a documentary-like sit down for the commercial.

It’s pretty creative and the brand certainly knew what they were doing. Will Jordan respond? Don’t bet on it, his focus right now is on winning NASCAR races.

The post Scottie Pippen appears to take a shot at Michael Jordan in new commercial appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears entered this offseason having to fill some needs, mainly on the defense. With a lot of players not under contract as well as a cap situation that forced them to move on from Tremaine Edmunds, Ryan Poles has done what he can for the roster so far.

But with the first wave of free agency in the books, we shouldn’t expect many splash moves moving forward.

Now, the Bears will turn to the NFL Draft to find some more help for the roster. And on Monday another player left in free agency, creating a need albeit a small one.

Travis Homer signs with Pittsburgh Steelers

The Chicago Bears running back situation going into this season will be D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. That was a good combination last season for the Bears with Swift having a career year and Monangai having a really good first season. But now they will have to find a backup.

On Monday, Travis Homer signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, leaving Chicago after three seasons.

The #Steelers are signing former #Bears and #Seahawks RB and special teamer Travis Homer, source said.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 23, 2026

Homer was signed as a free agent in 2023, signing a two-year deal. He was re-signed last offseason, re-joining the team with a role on special teams and as a backup running back.

During his time with the Bears, Homer battled some injuries that limited his time on the field. He was more of a special teams player in terms of reps. For the Bears, bringing in another running back in the draft is now a realistic option. I wouldn’t expect a move in the first three rounds but certainly a day three option could be in the cards for the Bears.

The post Former Chicago Bears RB lands in AFC North appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The biggest story of the NASCAR season so far has been 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick. After winning the first three races of the year including his first Daytona 500, Reddick hit a bit of a ‘slump’ recently. But on Sunday, he found himself in the winner’s circle again.

Reddick took the checkered flag at the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway, winning his fourth race of the season. He did so while needing a new battery and also not having his cool suit work all day. So you could say that Reddick had to overcome some important factors.

But even so, it’s another win for 23XI Racing and team owner Michael Jordan as was excited once again following the win.

Michael Jordan fired up after Tyler Reddick’s win

In all four wins for Reddick this season, there’s been a common theme: Michael Jordan has been in attendance. The co-owner of 23XI Racing has been a success story in NASCAR this season, earning a win in this lawsuit and then four checkered flags.

Following this win, Jordan was once again fired up for Reddick.

“I’m pretty sure it was frustrating for him because he had an unbelievable car. And, you know, you never know what’s gonna happen, especially at Darlington,” Jordan said in a post-race interview. “And I think that, you know, the key to him winning was, you know, just keeping his head. You know, I think Billy did a good job of trying to keep him calm. . . So we just had to get the car right. And, you know, he kept his composure, and I think he did an unbelievable job.”

Jordan showed his emotion after the race, running down to celebrate once again with Reddick and the team.

Michael Jordan outta nowhere to celebrate! pic.twitter.com/PsLQATpGce

— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) March 22, 2026

Reddick sits atop the Cup Series standings comfortably with his fourth win of the year. He’s 61 points ahead of his teammate and second-placed Bubba Wallace.

The post Michael Jordan on Tyler Reddick’s fourth win this season: “Unbelievable” appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Billy Donovan is set to wrap up his sixth season as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls and it’s been another year of the rebuild. The Bulls are set to be in the lottery again and another year of disappointment.

Chicago is committed to Donovan despite a tear down after the trades they made. The two sides agreed to a contract extension this past July to keep Donovan here longer but there could be an opportunity for him in the college game. And it’s with one of the most prestigious programs in the game.

With North Carolina expected to move on from Hubert Davis, Donovan’s name will likely come up as a candidate. Some are already connecting him to the job.

Will UNC pursue Billy Donovan?

The Tar Heels blowing a 19-point lead to VCU in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday may have been it for Davis. Per multiple reports, the program is leaning towards moving on from the head coach after five seasons. No official lists of replacements are out there yet but one writer believes Donovan should be a candidate.

Bill Bender of The Sporting News listed Donovan among his candidates:

Donovan, 60, is the oldest candidate on this list. He’s also the only one with two national championships. He won two national championships at Florida. He has been a NBA coach with Oklahoma City and Chicago – but the Bulls are close to missing the playoffs for the fifth straight season. Donovan could return to the college game – and maybe he should – and UNC would be a good landing spot.

He makes a good point. Donovan does have college experience, and a lot of it. He led Florida to back-to-back national championships and proved to be a really good coach at the college level.

Donovan made the jump to the NBA level in 2015 where he took the Oklahoma City Thunder job until 2020. In his college career, Donovan went 502-206 over 21 seasons.

It’s very early and there are no indications that Donovan is even interested in the North Carolina job. However, don’t be surprised if his name does pop up at some point if the job is open.

The post Blue Blood college basketball program urged to pursue Chicago Bulls’ Billy Donovan appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Dennis Rodman spent 14 seasons in the NBA with the Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers. Over that time, he won five NBA titles, was a two-time all-star and won the NBA’s rebounding crown seven times.

That career led him to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame where he was inducted in 2011. He was also named to a member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team, being honored as one of the best players of all time. Now, Rodman is heading to another Hall of Fame here in 2026.

Dennis Rodman to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame per report

On Friday morning, ESPN reported that Rodman will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame next month. He will be a part of the 2026 class as a celebrity inductee. Rodman had a brief wrestling stint in the 90’s notably joining the NWO and partnering up with the late Hulk Hogan.

Basketball Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Friday. Rodman, a five-time NBA champion with the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls, has a four-match pro wrestling career, with three of those coming in WCW.

He made his WCW debut in 1997 and famously skipped a practice during the 1998 NBA Finals to appear on “WCW Monday Nitro,” where he set up a tag team match in which he partnered with Hulk Hogan to face Diamond Dallas Page and Karl Malone.

The WWE Hall of Fame has a celebrity wing that Rodman will join. The wing includes William Perry, Mike Tyson, Pete Rose, Muhammad Ali, and Bob Uecker.

Rodman will be inducted on April 17 in Las Vegas as part of WrestleMania weekend.

The post Dennis Rodman to be inducted into Hall of Fame appeared first on ChiCitySports.

With just one month left to go in the NBA regular season, the future of the Chicago Bulls could be in how they finish here in 2026. The Bulls made the decision to trade some key pieces of the roster, moving towards a rebuild without exactly admitting it.

The problem for the Bulls is that they waited to long to do this and in terms of trade packages, they didn’t really receive any valuable assets. One player the Bulls got back in a trade was guard Jaden Ivey from the Detroit Pistons. The former lottery pick struggled at times with the Pistons as he was bothered with injuries throughout his career. But being traded, he got a new shot with the Bulls.

However, the injury bug is back.

Ivey hasn’t played lately as he’s dealing with left soreness and has appeared in just four games with the Bulls. But there is a positive update on his status.

Jaden Ivey likely to return soon for Chicago Bulls

With just the month left, the Bulls are hoping to get a good look at Ivey in terms of his future. He’s a restricted free agent and there’s signs that point to the Bulls taking a chance on him and retaining him.

On Wednesday, Billy Donovan put out an update on Ivey saying that the soreness in is knee is gone.

Billy says the plan is to have Jaden Ivey with the team on their upcoming road trip and the hope is that he can play at some point

He says the pain in his knee is gone

— Will Gottlieb (@Will_Gottlieb) March 18, 2026

The Bulls begin their road trip on Wednesday, March 25 as they will be on the road for four games. Getting Ivey back will help the Bulls in terms of that evaluation. As Joe Cowley reports, all signs point to the Bulls trying to retain him.

“The unfortunate part was that when he got here, you’re dealing with him coming into a completely new situation after the trade deadline and then trying to get acclimated,” Donovan said. “I mean, the intention when [made the trade] is this could be somebody that would be here for a while. How all this plays out with the contract in July and the free agency part of it, understanding he’s restricted, I don’t know. But our intention organizationally was, this is a guy we feel could be a very, very good player, and this guy’s got a pretty long runway of being somewhat youthful and young.”

Maybe Ivey can be a diamond in the rough for the Bulls. But at this point, it might be hard to count on that moving forward.

The post Billy Donovan provides key update on injured Chicago Bulls guard appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago’s newest land project “The 78” has become a hot topic for stadiums. The Chicago Fire were able to move forward with their stadium project, bringing a state of the art stadium to the land, funded all by ownership.

Now, the Chicago White Sox could be looking to make a big move and a report on Wednesday suggests just that.

A report on Wednesday from Crain’s Chicago Business states that Shore Capital, Justin Ishbia’s private equity firm, is close to a deal to buy 47 acres of rail yard across from The 78. The site is currently owned by Amtrak. However, the report suggests that Amtrak is looking for a bigger location which would open the door for this purchase.

Does this mean a new stadium for the Chicago White Sox?

There’s the obvious connection there with Ishbia who is the owner in waiting for the White Sox. With the stadium deal running up in 2029 for Guaranteed Rate, moving forward with a new stadium seems like an obvious move for the franchise.

However, there are some hurdles.

Shore Capital doesn’t mention anything about a potential site for a White Sox stadium. The land that is being purchased may not be big enough either to accommodate a new stadium.  There were plans for The 78 before the Fire scooped in and landed it. But there were questions about that plot of land as well.

The report from Crain’s does say that if this deal goes through, the groundwork could be all set for a stadium-centric district on the southern edge of downtown. If it works, it would be an awesome spot for a new stadium. It would also grow that area near the 78, with two stadiums close together.

This is still all speculation until the sale is finalized and then there are stadium plans. But at least for now, there’s some hope for a new stadium project with a new owner ready to spend.

The post Justin Ishbia makes move for potential South Loop White Sox ballpark site appeared first on ChiCitySports.

After the initial wave of free agency, the Chicago Bears were relatively quiet in terms of splash moves in free agency. Outside of signing linebacker Devin Bush and safety Coby Bryant, the Bears made more signings of value than anything.

Going into free agency the Bears had some major needs including zero safeties under contract. While they did add Bryant as well as brought back Elijah Hicks, they lost Jaquan Brisker, Jonathan Owens and the versatile C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the process. So there’s still a need for another starter and depth piece.

And Chicago could address that in the 2026 NFL Draft as one insider predicts.

Daniel Jeremiah has Chicago Bears taking defensive playmaker

Holding the No. 25 overall pick, the Bears will have plenty of options to fill some needs on their roster. It’s just a matter of who is on top of their board when it’s time to pick and where they value each position. For Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com, he thinks the Bears are going to address safety with the pick and he has them taking Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in his latest mock draft:

You could argue that safety isn’t as big of a need as edge rusher or defensive tackle.  But it is a need that has to be addressed. Taking the best safety prospect left and someone who can come in and start right away isn’t a bad idea, either.

Chicago will certainly have options come April’s draft. The key for Ryan Poles is to find a few guys on defense who can contribute right away.

The post Latest NFL mock draft has Chicago Bears landing dynamic playmaker appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bulls continue to hang around the top 10 of the NBA lottery for the upcoming draft after reshaping the roster at the trade deadline. But it’s clear the team is going to build around Matas Buzelis, a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

While the Bulls appear years away from completing their rebuild, Buzelis continues to show flashes of his potential. His second season in the league is a good step forward in terms of his development and what it means moving forward. And on Monday night, Buzelis joined some really rare and elite company this season by hitting a few milestones.

Matas Buzelis is in elite company this season

The Bulls were able to take care of business against the Memphis Grizzlies at the United Center. It hurt their NBA lottery position as they will likely not be able to catch the Grizzlies for the 8th spot in the lottery. They are also just a half game ahead of the Bucks who are 10th.

But it was Buzelis performance that really stood out. He finished the game with 29 points and 7 rebounds as the team was +27 with him on the floor last night. He also drained five three-pointers and had three blocks in the game. With that, he reached 100 blocks and 100 made three-pointers on the year, joining only Victor Wembanyama as the only two players in the NBA to do that this season.

NBA players with 100 blocks and 100 threes this season:

Matas Buzelis
Victor Wembanyama

— Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) March 17, 2026

That’s a pretty impressive feat for Buzelis in his second season.

Now, ideally you want the Bulls to lose and tank to get a higher draft pick. But in reality, they waited too long to do that and are probably going to miss out on a top player in a loaded draft.

The bright spot right now is Buzelis, who continues to have a big second season in the league. Building around him is what the Bulls want to do and if he gets better and better, it’s great for the Bulls.

The post Matas Buzelis in elite company with this stat appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Former Duke and Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski is no longer coaching college basketball after retiring in 2022 after several successful years in the game. The Chicago native still makes appearances at Duke games here and there, but also does some media rounds.

The latest media appearance for Coach K came on Monday when he talked about the NCAA Tournament on “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN. During the appearance, Coach K was able to chat with Pat McAfee as well as the rest of the crew. That includes former Green Bay Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk. And during the show, Coach K was able to get a few shots in at the former Packers linebacker.

Coach K wasn’t a fan of A.J. Hawk and the Packers, respectfully

While he was born and raised in Chicago before heading to Army, we haven’t seen much of him around the Windy City or the sports teams. So it might be news to some that Coach K is still a Bears fan through and through, making it known to Hawk and the rest of the show.

“I hated [A.J] Hawk being on the Packers because I’m a Bears fan, you guys had great habits,” Coach K said. “You guys beat our ass so many times, it was unbelievable. I hated you with respect.”

"I hated @OfficialAJHawk because he was on the Packers..

I'm a Bears fan and they beat our ass so many times..

I hated you with respect" ~ Coach K #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/xG5or4QF23

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 16, 2026

Coach K has expressed his Bears fandom in the past, but it’s rare to hear him talk about it these days. He tries to keep more of a low profile now that he’s retired but I imagine he really enjoyed the season the Bears had in 2025. Especially since they won two of three against the Packers including eliminating them in the NFC Playoffs.

Maybe we will hear more from Coach K on not only the Bears but other Chicago sports teams soon enough.

The post Coach K reveals why he wasn’t a fan of AJ Hawk and the Packers appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Former Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber has found a new home with the Philadelphia Phillies, coming off another very impressive season. Schwarber is playing in the World Baseball Classic for Team USA, he’s hoping to help them win the tournament after they punched their ticket to the title game.

During Monday’s day off, Schwarber caught up with the media to talk about the tournament so far. Coming off a huge win over the Dominican Republic, the USA is still soaking in what was an emotional game.

In the process, Schwarber was asked about the greatest sports moment in US history. His answer? Well, it wasn’t the 2016 Chicago Cubs winning the World Series.

Kyle Schwarber names the greatest sports moment

Schwarber was asked the question by Tricia Whitaker and he had an answer that made both of them very happy.

“The Indiana Hoosiers winning a national championship,” Schwarber said. “So that was pretty awesome. It was ecstatic, it was electric, I was surprised by how many Indiana fans there were even for a home game in Miami. But it was so much fun. I mean Miami had a great defense. But Indiana just did what they did, stayed to the game plan and walked away. I never thought I’d see it in my life. But I’m glad that I did.”

Whitaker is also an Indiana alumnus so she sort of teed him up for that question. While it is a great moment, Schwarber was also a part of the 2016 Cubs team who broke a 108-year curse.

The post Kyle Schwarber reveals his greatest moment in US sports history appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Former Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields has a new home in the NFL.

Just two years after the Bears traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers, he’s now staying in the AFC. But it won’t be with his last team, the New York Jets, and instead he’s going to a team with one of the best quarterbacks and coaches in the league.

Per Tom Pelissero, the Kansas City Chiefs have acquired Fields from the New York Jets in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Fields will now become the backup to Patrick Mahomes after Gardner Minshew signed a deal in Arizona.

Trade! The Jets are sending QB Justin Fields to the Chiefs, sources say. pic.twitter.com/FLPnUkpCv2

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 16, 2026

Is Kansas City a good fit for Justin Fields?

At this point in his career, Fields has now had three chances to be a starting quarterback since the Bears drafted him in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft at No. 11 overall. But the previous three times haven’t worked out for him. With stops in Pittsburgh and New York, Fields was benched in both spots.

Now, he goes to Kansas City, a franchise that has found success with Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. This might be a good spot and situation for Fields as he won’t have to come in and be the starter right away. Instead, he can be the primary backup and learn from the head coach and quarterback.

In his five year career, Fields has appeared in 59 games and started 53 of those. He’s thrown for 9,039 yards, 52 touchdowns and 32 interceptions while completing 61.4 percent of his attempts. Fields has also rushed for 2,892 yards and 23 touchdowns in his career.

Mahomes suffered an ACL injury last season that cost him to miss the final few games of the season. However, he’s expected to be ready for the start of the 2026 NFL season. His recovery will be something to monitor this offseason.

The post Former Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields gets new start with Ryan Poles’ old team appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Goldin, an internationally renowned auction house known for rare and record-breaking collectible sales, today opened its 2026 Photography Auction, running March 13 through April 4. The auction presents 100 valuable photographs spanning sports, culture, and historical events. In addition, it offers collectors museum-quality imagery tied to some of the most recognizable figures and moments of the past century.

The auction is led by a remarkable 1984 Michael Jordan PSA Type I Original Photo. It was taken by Nike photographer Chuck Kuhn, captured immediately after the now-iconic “Skyline” image used for the world-famous Jumpman logo. The photo features the same outfit, same sweatband, same basket, and same ball. Meanwhile, the never-before-seen Type I provides a rare glimpse into the early visual creation of one of the most recognizable athletic brands in history.

The iconic Michael Jordan Nike photo

Back in 1984, Jordan shot a promotional photo with Nike for the release of the Air Jordan 1. The ‘skyline’ image shows Jordan soaring through the air with the Jumpman logo. The photo shows Jordan posing on the basketball court holding the ball. The Air Jordan 1 is draped over his shoulder.

Here’s the story behind it from Goldin:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Goldin (@goldinco)

More info from Goldin

The 2026 Photography Auction will close on April 4, with extended bidding beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET.

Looking towards the summer, the company’s USA 250 Auction, celebrating the semiquincentennial of the United States and headlined by an original Declaration of Independence Broadside, is scheduled to open on May 8. Consignments for the USA 250 as well as the World Cup Auction are currently also being accepted. Interested parties should reach out to sell@goldin.com.

The post Original Michael Jordan Nike photo headlines Goldin’s 2026 Photography Auction appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Illinois Fighting Illini are heading to Greenville, South Carolina as part of the South Region in the NCAA Tournament.

The full 68-team field was officially set on Sunday as the committee unveiled it’s seeds and bracket. For Illinois, they earned a No. 3 seed in the South Region and will matchup against Penn on Thursday for the first round.

For Illinois, they finished the regular season 24-8 but were upset by Wisconsin in Friday’s quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. Still, they did well enough this season to earn a No. 3 seed and a chance to make a run in the NCAA Tournament.

Also in the South Region is a potential match-up with No. 6 North Carolina in Greenville, a rematch of the 2005 National Championship. The Tar Heels are set to face off against No. 11 VCU.

FULL NCAA TOURNAMENT BRACKET

The region also includes No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Houston and No. 4 Nebraska.

This will be Illinois’ sixth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Illinois set to face familiar foe in 2026 NCAA Tournament

When the Fighting Illini take the court on Thursday, they will see a familiar face on the Penn coaching staff. Longtime Iowa head coach Fran McCaffrey is now the coach at Penn, leading them to the NCAA Tournament this season. He coached at Iowa from 2010-2025 and put together a really good season at Penn. The Quakders won Ivy League and clinched a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Despite finishing third in the Ivy League, they beat Yale in overtime behind TJ Power’s 44 points. Power previously spent time at both Duke and Virginia before transferring to Penn.

The Quakers are one of the top three-point shooting teams in the country, shooting 38.1% which is 16th in the nation. Plus, with McCaffrey’s experience against Illinois, he may have a little insight on how to play the Fighting Illini defensively.

Tip time for Thursday is still to be determined.

The post Illinois’ 2026 NCAA Tournament seed officially revealed appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The NCAA Tournament officially gets underway this week as 68 teams try to win it all and cut down the nets in April. Each year, it’s one of the premier events in all of sports as the next few weeks will give us upsets, memorable moments, buzzer beaters and more.

As we get set for the upcoming tournament, our friends over at FOCO have released some special March Madness bobbleheads. These bobbleheads pay homage to the past and features some Blue Blood programs.

Available now are the NCAA Basketball Cutting The Net Mini Bobblehead Scenes. They are available featuring Duke, Kentucky, Indiana, and North Carolina, paying homage to the historic programs.

Each bobblehead celebrates an NCAA Tournament championship from a certain year: Indiana in 1987, North Carolina in 1982, Duke in 2015, and Kentucky in 2012.

These bobbleheads are handcrafted, handpainted, and limited edition, so you want to make sure to order one now. They are priced at $55 each and are up for preorder now as part of a big weekend of releases from our friends at FOCO. If you’re a fan of any of these teams, you want to make sure you get yours now!

The post FOCO releasing NCAA Blue Blood collection for NCAA Tournament appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Team USA punched their tickets to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic after beating Canada 5-3 on Friday night. They will now face off against the Dominican Republic on Sunday night.

A big reason why they are in this position is due to the play of Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.

He’s been in and out of the lineup for Team USA but when he gets the start from Mark DeRosa, he’s delivered. And you could argue he’s been the best position player for Team USA. Crow-Armstrong proved that once again on Friday night in the win over Canada.

Pete Crow-Armstrong’s hot start at World Baseball Classic

On Friday, Crow-Armstrong got the start in center field once again for Team USA over Byron Buxton. He finished the game 2-of-4 with 1 RBI and played really good defense in the outfield. That brings his numbers up to an impressive pace this World Baseball Classic.

PCA has been COOKING so far in the #WorldBaseballClassic

.357 AVG || .438 OBP || .857 SLG

2 HR
6 RBI
4 R
2 SO pic.twitter.com/jZjqaztmgX

— DodgersMuse (@LADodgersMuse) March 14, 2026

This performance comes after Crow-Armstrong was a significant part of the team’s performance against Italy. Despite a loss, Crow-Armstrong hit two home runs to help the run differential tiebreaker. He showed off his power which the Cubs are hoping he has again this season.

With a huge game against the Dominican Republic coming up, it will be interesting to see if DeRosa goes with Crow-Armstrong as the starter in center field. Or if he goes back to Buxton. It’s hard to imagine the latter in this situation.

The post Pete Crow-Armstrong center point of Team USA’s success at World Baseball Classic appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Blackhawks present a particular kind of problem for bettors. A team that sits 7th in the Central Division with a 24-29-11 record does not inspire confidence at first glance, yet these games produce outcomes that reward careful study over casual dismissal. Chicago scores goals in bunches when things click, and they concede them freely when they do not. This volatility creates openings.

Betting on the Blackhawks requires you to abandon the assumption that poor teams offer poor value. The opposite can hold true. Oddsmakers price these games based on public perception, and public perception tends to write off struggling franchises. Your job is to find the gaps between what the lines suggest and what the actual matchup conditions support.

This is a team with Connor Bedard putting up 57 points through 50 games, including 26 goals on a 15.8% shooting conversion rate. The offense has teeth. The defense has holes. Both facts matter when you sit down to analyze any given contest.

Reading the Current Roster Situation

Injuries alter betting calculations more than most bettors acknowledge. Oliver Moore recently suffered a lower-body injury that will keep him out for a considerable stretch. His absence affects lineup depth and shifts ice time allocations across the forward group. Before placing money on any Blackhawks game, you need to check the injury report and understand who fills the gaps.

Tyler Bertuzzi carries 22 goals in 39 games, which ties him for 6th in the league. He has recorded two hat tricks and 10 multi-goal performances this season. When Bertuzzi plays, the Blackhawks possess a secondary scoring threat that opponents must account for. His availability changes the offensive calculus entirely.

Stretching Your Bankroll on Blackhawks Wagers

Sportsbooks compete for bettors with bonus offers, free bet credits, and deposit matches that can extend your betting funds. Scanning the best sportsbook promos alongside loyalty programs and odds boosts specific to NHL games gives you more room to place wagers on teams like Chicago without committing additional capital. Some platforms run hockey-specific promotions during playoff pushes or rivalry matchups.

The Blackhawks sit at 24-29-11, which means their games often carry value on either side. Using promotional credits on a team with a 169-goal offense and 202 goals allowed lets you test betting angles on high-variance matchups without fully risking your own money.

Offensive Output and What It Tells You

Chicago ranks 27th in goals scored with 169 on the season. That number looks poor until you consider the context of specific games. Bedard has posted five points over his last four contests and has reached 60 points, tracking toward a career year. The offense clusters its production. Some nights the puck finds the net repeatedly; other nights it does not.

This clustering pattern matters for totals betting. Blackhawks games trend toward high-scoring affairs given their defensive struggles (202 goals against, 22nd in the league). When you bet the over on a Chicago game, you are banking on both teams contributing. The Blackhawks usually hold up their end of that bargain, for better or worse.

Bedard’s 15 multi-point performances indicate nights when the offense catches fire. Tracking his recent form gives you a data point, though not a guarantee. Hockey remains a team sport, and single players rarely dictate outcomes alone.

Home Ice Considerations

Games at the United Center deserve separate analysis. Home teams in hockey receive certain advantages from last change privileges and crowd support, though these factors carry less weight than in other sports. What matters more for the Blackhawks is travel schedules and back-to-back situations.

A team in rebuild mode with a young core tends to show fatigue more readily than veteran squads. When Chicago plays at home after several road games, the rest factor works in their favor. Conversely, road games at the end of a trip often expose their weaknesses.

Check the schedule before betting any Blackhawks game. Where does this contest fall in their current stretch? Did they play last night? Is the opponent on a back-to-back? These questions affect the outcome more than season-long statistics might suggest.

Betting Against the Blackhawks

Successful betting on a team includes knowing when to bet against them. The Blackhawks give up goals at a rate that makes opposing offenses look good. When Chicago faces a team with strong finishing ability, the opponent’s offensive props become attractive.

You can also consider Chicago as a fade candidate when they face playoff-contending teams with something to prove. The motivation gap between a rebuilding squad and a team fighting for seeding shows up in effort levels during certain periods. Watch for games where the Blackhawks have little to gain and the opponent has much to lose.

Prop Bets Worth Examining

Player props on Blackhawks games offer angles that game lines do not. Bedard’s shot totals and point props draw attention from oddsmakers, which means the lines are usually tight. Lesser-known players sometimes present better value.

Goaltender performance props carry risk given Chicago’s defensive inconsistencies. The team in front affects save percentage and goals against in ways that make goalie props unpredictable. Approach these with caution unless you have specific information about the matchup that others might overlook.

Managing Your Approach Over the Season

No betting strategy survives contact with reality unless you track results and adjust. Keep records of every Blackhawks bet you place. Note the reasoning, the line, and the outcome. After 20 or 30 wagers, patterns emerge. You learn which situations favor your approach and which do not.

The Blackhawks will win some games they should lose and lose some games they should win. This inconsistency frustrates casual observers but creates opportunity for those who study the details. Accept variance as part of the process. Single-game results tell you little. Long-term accuracy tells you everything.

Conclusion

Betting on the Chicago Blackhawks works when you treat each game as its own problem rather than an extension of their season record. Injury reports, schedule spots, and recent form carry more weight than overall standings for a team in transition. The roster has real talent in Bedard and Bertuzzi, surrounded by players still developing. This combination produces unpredictable results that sportsbooks struggle to price correctly. Your edge comes from doing the work that casual bettors skip.

The post How to Bet Successfully on the Chicago Blackhawks appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears lost a few key players in free agency this season as they are overhauling the defense. Among the losses was All-Pro safety Kevin Byard.

In his second season with the Bears, Byard had one of the best seasons of his career. He finished with seven interceptions and was a leader on the Bears’ defense. While both sides expressed interest in a return, it ended up not happening. Instead, the Bears signed Coby Bryant and a few days later, Byard joined the New England Patriots.

It was a bit of a surprise that Byard didn’t return and now we know why he picked New England.

Kevin Byard on why New England Patriots were the right fit

Byard met the media in New England for the first time since signing there, reuniting with his former coach Mike Vrbael. It was reported that he was down to the Bears and Patriots as he ended up picking the AFC Champion.

“I just think that the culture of this team, this organization, obviously a winning culture, but, I think the pieces that they have in place,” Byard said. “I think it makes it very attractive for any free agent want to come here”

Kevin Byard Explains Why #Patriots were his top destination if he left #Bears in Free Agency:

“I just think that the culture of this team, this organization, obviously a winning culture, but, I think the pieces that they have in place…I think it makes it very attractive for any… pic.twitter.com/Yq6qLQPpGo

— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) March 12, 2026

Byard didn’t take any shots at his former team and he had a connection with the Patriots, so it’s easy to see why he joined there. It’s disappointing the Bears are losing that leadership but it goes with the theme of them wanting to get faster, especially on that side of the ball.

Now, the hope is that the Bears made the right decision and potentially find an upgrade at the position with Bryant. But only time will tell.

The post Kevin Byard reveals why he made decision to join New England Patriots appeared first on ChiCitySports.

With the Chicago Bears picking No. 25 in the 2026 NFL Draft, they have the chance to add to the defensive line. They could look to add an edge rusher or potentially a defensive tackle and will have a few options.

This is considered a good class for both positions, so the Bears could find themselves landing an impact player there. However, one player that is being connected to the Bears at 25 is Caleb Banks. And on Thursday, there was some bad news regarding Banks.

Chicago Bears’ draft prospect Caleb Banks suffers injury

The former Louisville player transferred to Florida where he found success on the Gators’ defensive line. He put up a monster 2024 season before being sidelined in 2025, playing in just three games due to a foot injury.

While Banks said he was healthy at the combine and planned on doing drills, he pulled out early. And now we know the reason why.

Draft expert Dane Brugler reported on Thursday afternoon that Banks suffered a broken foot at the scouting combine in Indianapolis. That puts a big damper on his pre-draft process. As Brugler reports, the injury happened the night before his on-field testing. He performed a partial workout not knowing the extent of the injury. The fracture of the fourth metatarsal was surgically repaired by Dr. Norman Waldrop on March 9.

Sources: DT Caleb Banks suffered a broken foot at the Combine that will sideline him until June.

The injury happened the night before his on-field testing. He performed a partial workout not knowing the extent of the injury. The fracture of the fourth metatarsal was surgically…

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) March 12, 2026

An injury like this will certainly shake things up. Banks was projected as high as top 20 but there were some mock drafts who had him to Chicago at No. 25. It’s still VERY early to tell in terms of where his stock is now but this feels like he could fall into the second round now.

The questions will all be about the medicals for Banks now as he will not participate in Florida’s pro day. It’s

The post NFL Draft prospect linked to Chicago Bears suffers injury appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The 2026 league year is official for the NFL after two days of the legal tampering period is in the books. Deals can now be official and we’ve already had some fireworks in free agency, headlined by the Baltimore Ravens backing out of the Maxx Crosby trade.

For the Chicago Bears, they have made a few signings already but still have some big needs to fill. Among them is at pass rusher. Chicago hasn’t done much of anything in terms of adding pass rush help and it remains an issue. While there are a few guys still out there to sign, none really move the needle in terms of a solution.

So how about the draft?

That appears to be the most realistic solution for the Bears in terms of finding another pass rusher. The good news is that this is considered a good class for the edge rusher position.

Chicago Bears projected to land defensive tackle

With the free agency period officially underway now, we have a good idea of some team needs. And it’s a good time to look at some updated mock drafts for the first round.

That’s exactly what the USA TODAY did with their latest mock as Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz has the Bears addressing a big need with them selecting Clemson’s Peter Woods. Now, he’s not an edge rusher but he has the chance to be a really good defensive tackle that can help generate pressure up front.

Here is what he wrote on the selection:

They didn’t land Crosby as some speculated they might, but the Bears still have a chance to ramp up the disruptiveness of their front four. Woods’ high-end flashes separate him from all other interior defenders other than Banks, though his inconsistency could cost him a spot on Day 1.

Woods is an intriguing prospect out of Clemson who has his stock anywhere from top 15 to back end of the first round.  He can play in different schemes and his 2024 tape really stands out in terms of him being disruptive.

If an edge rusher the Bears like isn’t there, they very well could pivot to a tackle. And it feels like Woods fits the mold for what Chicago wants to do.

The post Chicago Bears address a big need in latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The NFL world was rocked on Tuesday night when it was reported that the Baltimore Ravens backed out of the trade with the Las Vegas Raiders for Maxx Crosby. Due to medicals, the Ravens weren’t comfortable with the result.

Now, Crosby goes back to Las Vegas and the Ravens get their two first-round picks back. The Ravens then signed Trey Hendrickson on Wednesday morning, drawing some negative responses from people around the league.

But the biggest part of this story is that Crosby is now available and back on the market.

The Chicago Bears were among the teams rumored to be involved originally in the Crosby sweepstakes. They could get back in depending on the price for him. But early reports suggest the Raiders aren’t backing off their asking price.

Las Vegas Raiders’ asking price for Maxx Crosby remains the same?

Just hours after the Ravens backed out, the NFL world was buzzing with reports of what could happen next. Crosby reportedly showed up to Raiders’ headquarters for his rehab and there’s a chance the team can keep him this season as they still have enough cap space to do so. But if a trade were to happen, it sounds like the Raiders are asking for the same return as Baltimore gave them.

Per Dianna Russini, teams that are interested in Maxx Crosby believe the Raiders aren’t going to come off their asking price of two first-round picks at this time.

Teams that are interested in Maxx Crosby believe the Raiders aren't going to come off their asking price of two first-round picks at this time.

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 11, 2026

The price is a steep one to pay, especially for a team like the Bears. However, they do have a need for a pass rusher and with some restructures they could make it happen.

For now, Crosby is back with the Raiders but I imagine the talks will pick up especially if they eventually go down with the price. It’s something to monitor moving forward.

The post NFL RUMORS: Price for Maxx Crosby revealed again appeared first on ChiCitySports.

With just over two weeks until the start of the 2026 MLB season, Spring Training is wrapping up and teams are getting a more clear idea of their lineup and pitching rotation.

For the Chicago Cubs, they haven’t announced their opening day starter. But it feels like it will be Cade Horton. They do know who they will be facing when they take the field on March 26th.

The Washington Nationals announced that Cade Cavalli will get the start for the team when they face the Cubs at Wrigley Field. It was made official on Wednesday after a report from Ryan Shenker surfacing earlier in the week.

Cade Cavalli gets rewarded with Opening Day start vs. Chicago Cubs

Cavalli was drafted by the Nationals 22nd overall in 2020 and made his debut in August of 2022. He was then shut down for the rest of that season with right shoulder inflammation.

Cavalli made his return in August of 2025 and now he gets his chance for a big time start.

The post Chicago Cubs opening day opposing pitcher revealed appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears have named defensive lineman Andrew Billings as the team’s recipient of the 2025 Ed Block Courage Award. This annual honor recognizes a player from the club who embodies the qualities of Ed Block: courage, compassion, commitment and community service.

Billings will be honored at the Ed Block Courage Award Luncheon on Wednesday, March 11, from 12:30–2:30 p.m. at Manzo’s Banquets in Des Plaines, Ill. The luncheon benefits Maryville Academy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children and families in need. Proceeds from the luncheon will fund scholarships for high school, college and vocational education, supporting the organization’s mission to provide brighter futures for vulnerable youth.

The Ed Block Courage Award was established in Baltimore in honor of Ed Block, the former head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts. Block and his wife devoted their lives to helping children in distress as foster parents and advisers, inspiring the foundation’s mission to support vulnerable youth. Today, 32 Courage Houses affiliated with NFL teams continue that mission as the Ed Block Courage Awards celebrate their 48th year.

Andrew Billings honored by Chicago Bears

Billings was selected through a team vote organized by the Bears athletic trainers in collaboration with player representatives and team captains. The recognition highlights his leadership, perseverance and dedication on and off the field. Teammates and coaches consistently recognize Billings as a respected presence in the locker room.

Originally drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, Billings has built a reputation as a dependable force along the defensive line throughout his NFL career. Since joining the Chicago Bears in 2023, he has been a key contributor to the team’s defensive front, bringing physicality, discipline and veteran leadership to the unit.

Off the field, Billings has earned recognition for his dedication to community service and mentorship. In 2024, he was selected as the Chicago Bears’ nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, the league’s most prestigious honor recognizing players for their impact in the community. The nomination reflected his continued commitment to using his platform to create meaningful opportunities for young people and uplift families in need through his Billings Family Find-A-Way Foundation.

Over the past several years, Billings has led initiatives focused on education, mentorship and youth development. His efforts have included hosting youth football camps, providing classroom mini grants for teachers and supporting mentorship programs designed to help students navigate challenges both in and out of school. He has also championed literacy and school engagement through initiatives.  That included his Bikes & Books drive, which rewards students with bicycles, books and school supplies while encouraging strong attendance and a love for reading. Through these programs and ongoing outreach, Billings has remained committed to strengthening communities and empowering the next generation.

Through his leadership, perseverance and service, Billings exemplifies the spirit of the Ed Block Courage Award.

The post Chicago Bears Name Andrew Billings as 2025 Ed Block Courage Award Recipient appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The 2026 NFL Draft order is officially set as the league revealed the final step in releasing compensation picks. The bad news is that the Chicago Bears did not receive any for losing players or for having Ian Cunningham taking the Atlanta Falcons general manager job.

Monday’s decision was the final one for the Bears’ chances. Following that decision, many were upset and confused by the rule as it feels like Chicago really should have received some picks.

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio is the latest to speak out against this and ripped the NFL in the process.

Mike Florio calls Chicago Bears decision ‘ridiculous’

Florio did a radio hit on 104.3 The Score Tuesday morning on the “Mully and Haugh Show” where he discussed the NFL’s decision to not award the Bears the compensatory picks. And he didn’t hold back.

“This is one of the most ridiculous unforced errors I’ve ever seen the NFL commit,” Florio said. “Why would you not, let’s flip it around. If they had just given the Bears the compensatory picks, who would have complained about it? Would anyone have been upset? Would anyone have said ‘Ian Cunningham is not really the general manger of the Atlanta Falcons, it’s just a title. He’s a figure head. Matt Ryan is really in charge’.”

“I think the whole thing demeans the effort to enhance minority hiring by rewarding teams for developing talent that results in a hire as a head coach or a general manager. They are splitting hairs unnecessarily. The whole thing is a mess.”

Florio went on to say that he even asked the league for a reason why. Their answer was that Matt Ryan is the primary football executive in Atlanta as the answer. He even brought up the Terry Fontenot situation a few years back which is very similar.

It is a shame the NFL isn’t giving the Bears the picks. It truly hurts the spirit of the rule as well.

The post NFL analyst rips league over Chicago Bears decision appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs signed free agent pitcher Shelby Miller this offseason knowing he was coming off a major surgery. At the time, the Cubs knew it could be a long shot that Miller was going to be able to pitch this season.

That was evident by the two-year deal that they gave him.

Miller underwent surgery on October 13th to repair his right ulnar collateral ligament and flexor tendon. It’s a process that takes several months to recover from, hence the projection of missing the season. But on Monday in Spring Training, Miller provided some potential good news.

Could Shelby Miller return early for Chicago Cubs?

The pitcher spoke with reporters on Monday and revealed what his goal was for the season. He hopes to return this season as he told the Chicago Tribune in the interview.

“(Dr. Meister) wrote off on, ‘hey, we’re gonna get you back this year’ just by the way I’m rebounding on workouts and the way my arm looks and feels,” Miller told the Tribune on Sunday. “My goal is hopefully be back even a little bit sooner than that (September), depending on how I feel, but I’m really optimistic about getting back this year and contributing.

“I feel like I’ve taken a pretty big step forward in the gym, and the way my elbow’s recovering and not getting sore from all the lifts and stuff I’m doing, I feel like I’m ready to go ….

“It’s more about just the way I recover,” Miller said. “How am I feeling after I start throwing, is there any soreness, how’s my stuff, how is my sweeper and fastball and my sliders and then you just go from there.”

That’s great news.

You can never have enough pitching depth but hearing that Miller is potentially trying to return this season, it would be a bonus. He will need an MRI to clear him to start throwing and then from there it’s another process after he gets on the mound for a return. It’s hard to count on Miller returning at the moment but if he can, it could be a nice little boost for the Cubs.

The post Chicago Cubs pitcher aiming to be ready for 2026 season after injury appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears saw assistant general manager Ian Cunningham leave and take the general manager job in Atlanta. With Cunningham moving on, the hope was that Chicago would receive two third-round picks due to the Rooney Rule. However, early indications were a no on that as Matt Ryan’s job title technically puts him as the man in charge in Atlanta.

Now, on Monday a decision was made on the compensatory picks and it’s not great news for the Bears.

NFL doesn’t award Chicago Bears comp picks in 2026 NFL Draft

While there was some hope that Chicago could still get the comp picks, the NFL announced the 33 picks on Monday and zero went to the Bears. The league opted NOT to give the Bears the comp picks, leaving many frustrated.

With Ryan holding the primary football maker title in his contract, it means that Cunningham is just the general manager and second in charge. It’s a bit frustrating due to how the rule is structured and now, Chicago misses out due to a technicality.

NFL announced 33 compensatory picks for the 2026 draft. The #Bears were not awarded one. That doesn’t come as a surprise based on conversations last month at the combine.

— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) March 9, 2026

Chicago did exhaust options, however.

Ryan Poles was vocal at the NFL Scouting Combine, pleading his case through his public interview. He had some help from Cunningham himself who admitted the Bears should get the picks.

The Bears even went through back channels to state their case but in the end, the NFL had the final ruling.

The post Chicago Bears receive bad news with 2026 NFL Draft appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears were in a tough cap position this offseason, forcing them to have to make some decisions in terms of key players. One of those players was linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.

After the team granted him permission to seek a trade, they couldn’t find a deal. Edmunds was then released and now, he has a new home and it’s to a team that was rumored to be interested in him early on.

New York Giants land Chicago Bears linebacker

Per Mike Garafolo, the New York Giants are signing linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to a three-year deal worth $36 million. That’s $12 million per year for Edmunds who is coming off a big season for the Bears.

The #Giants have agreed to terms with veteran LB Tremaine Edmunds on a three-year, $36M deal, sources tell me and @RapSheet. Released by the #Bears recently, Edmunds joins John Harbaugh in East Rutherford. pic.twitter.com/B7pcllQkHk

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 9, 2026

Edmunds finished the 2025 season playing in 13 games with 4 interceptions, 112 total tackles and 3 tackles for a loss. He was having a Pro Bowl type of season before suffering an injury that cost him to miss four games.

For the Bears, they just couldn’t work through Edmunds cap hit in terms of keeping him around.  Ideally, they wanted to keep him but it was just too much due to their cap situation.

They did land Devin Bush, however as they gave the linebacker a three-year deal worth $30 million in free agency. Bush might actually be a better fit in Dennis Allen’s system as well.

For Edmunds, he joins the Giants under John Harbaugh as the franchise looks to rebuild. Edmunds also drew interest from the Carolina Panthers as well.

The post Former Chicago Bears linebacker has new home after getting deal in NFC appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears have some big needs to fill here in the 2026 offseason and among them is left tackle. For the second-straight offseason, the Bears have a need at left tackle after second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo suffered a ruptured patellar tendon that will keep him out most of if not all the 2026 season.

Chicago does have Theo Benedet and they could bring back Braxton Jones. They could also look at the draft as well. But as free agency begins, some news out from a league insider potentially opens the door for a big time splash from the Bears.

Could Trent Williams be in play for Chicago Bears?

Just as the legal tampering period was set to begin, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that the San Francisco 49ers “are now said to be open to trading Pro Bowl LT Trent Williams, sources say, if the situation doesn’t get resolved.”

Rapoport mentioned that a resolution has not been easy so far. Williams is due $32 million in salary and has a $38 million cap hit for the upcoming season.

The #49ers are now said to be open to trading Pro Bowl LT Trent Williams, sources say, if the situation doesn’t get resolved.

A resolution has not been easy and Williams is frustrated with the process. He’s due $32M in salary with a $38M+ cap number. pic.twitter.com/Qplidzdb3D

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2026

Now, it’s a big cap number for a team like the Bears to take on. However, it would be an immediate solution at left tackle for the next two years or so.  That depends on how long Williams wants to play. He’s set to be 38 when the season begins but is still playing at a high level as one of the best left tackles in football.

It would be a steep price to pay for the Bears including the asset they would have to give up. It would be a big “Fireworks show” signing as Bleacher Report’s Brandon Thorn pointed out.

This situation still is in flux but as we know, things can move quickly. And it’s a story to keep an eye on moving forward.

The post NFL Rumors: Potential All-Pro left tackle option available for Chicago Bears appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Michael Jordan found a lot of success on the basketball court, being considered the greatest to ever play the game. But in life after basketball, Jordan is now finding success in another sport.

Jordan is a co-owner of the 23XI Racing team along with Denny Hamlin and to start the 2026 NASCAR season, one of his drivers, Tyler Reddick won three-of-four races. Reddick won the first three races of the season before finishing eighth in Phoenix on Sunday. Overall, it was a good day for 23XI who also had Bubba Wallace placing sixth.

But before the race began, one driver made sure to note how much Jordan is impacting NASCAR.

Brad Keselowski approves of Michael Jordan in NASCAR

Ahead of the season, Jordan and 23XI settled on an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR in December 2025. That was a win for 23XI Racing as Jordan was a prominent figure in the hearings.

Now, drivers are starting to notice the impact Jordan is having on the sport. Here is what Brad Keselowski had to say when asked about that ahead of the race in Phoenix.

“Yeah, I mean it’s hard to argue against Michael having a positive influence on the sport,” Keselowski said. “I love the fact that he’s so engaged and at the races. I just can’t emphasize enough how important that is, not just Michael, but for any of the key stakeholders to just have physical presence at the racetrack. That’s for all levels.

“So for him to have physical presence, a testament for his fortitude for being a part of the sport. Because, lets face it, although he’s won the first three races, he’s lost a lot more. As every car owner will, it’s not a dig on him. If I’m a guy like him, personally, and I say ‘Where do I want to be today?’ And I know that I have less than a 10 percent chance of winning, flying my butt all across the country when I have all the things that Michael has, it probably something that takes me a minute to emotionally justify. But he does. I’ll give him a lot of respect and credit for that.”

Jordan has been to all four races this season and with the success that his team is having, we can expect more races for Jordan to attend this season.

It’s also awesome to see drivers notice that and respect that with Jordan.

The post NASCAR drivers are noticing Michael Jordan’s impact in sport appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Blackhawks were once again sellers at the NHL Trade Deadline on Friday afternoon. Their final move included moving captain Nick Foligno to Minnesota, reuniting him with his brother and sending him to a contender.

With Chicago’s rebuild still on going, eventually the team needs positive results. They already have a star in Connor Bedard who they took No. 1 overall a few years ago and building around him remains the focus.

But what is Bedard’s future in Chicago? One NHL insider had great news regarding his status with a long-term extension.

NHL insider says Connor Bedard is ‘in for the long haul’

During an appearance on CHSN on Thursday, insider Frank Seravalli was asked about Bedard’s future in Chicago. He brought up an extension, telling the hosts that Bedard is here for the long haul.

“Look, I think everyone wants to snap their fingers and make it happen. This has been a lengthy, methodical and patient rebuild. Everyone wants to see the Blackhawks take that next step forward, most important Connor Bedard. But he’s in lock step with the Blackhawks organization in terms of that plan. . . He will be signing a long-term extension at some point this Summer or offseason. The question is for how much? That’s really all that’s left for the Blackhawks and Bedard to figure out. Because he’s in the for the long haul. He gets it. He sees the plan coming together.”

"He's in for the long haul. He gets it. He sees the plan coming together."@frank_seravalli says Connor Bedard will be signing a long-term extension with the #Blackhawks this offseason, it's just a question of for how much. pic.twitter.com/8Czj0lhmSQ

— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) March 6, 2026

There really was never much doubt that Bedard wouldn’t get a long-term extension. It doesn’t make sense for the Blackhawks not to do it and by all means, Bedard hasn’t shown any signs of not wanting to be here.

Now, the next step after locking up Bedard is making sure to get this rebuild sped up as much as possible.

The post NHL insider reveals good news for Connor Bedard extension appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears had the task of freeing up cap space ahead of the new league year next week. Over the past few days, they were able to free up $44 million to earn them about $32 million in cap space.

While the Drew Dalman retirement was unplanned for, the Bears also decided to move on from wide receiver DJ Moore by trading him to Buffalo and then released Tremaine Edmunds. However, with that Dalman news, it created a major need for the Bears.

Last offseason, Chicago was able to fix the offensive line with three moves. They traded for Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, then signed Dalman. Now they need to find a new center to replace Dalman. With Tyler Biadasz off the board, the biggest target left is Tyler Linderbaum. The former Baltimore Ravens center would be an ideal fit but he will be pricey.

As we get set for the free agency period, one analyst made his prediction for where Linderbaum will land. And it’s good news for the Bears.

ESPN insider predicts Chicago Bears land Tyler Linderbaum

The free agency period is a few days and to get ready, Dan Graziano of ESPN made predictions for the big free agents. He projected Linderbaum to land with the Bears. Here is what he said:

Contract projection: Four years, $90 million with $60 million guaranteed

This would be an average salary of $22.5 million per year, which would blow the top off the center market. Kansas City’s Cree  Humphrey is currently the highest-paid center at $18 million per year. But by hitting unrestricted free agency at age 25 in an offseason with a ton of teams looking for starting centers and guards, Linderbaum should cash in big-time thanks to a bidding war between multiple teams — one of which just had its 27-year-old center retire unexpectedly this week.

Predicted landing spot: Chicago Bears

Now, that’s a hefty price to pay. But it would immediately solve a big need for the Bears and give them stability back at the center position. With Chicago freeing up the money, they did so for a reason.

It feels like they are going to go all in on Maxx Crosby or spend it on a key position of need elsewhere.

The post NFL Rumors: Insider predicts Chicago Bears to make big free agent signing appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears ushered in the Ben Johnson era last offseason and so far it’s worked out great for the franchise. Johnson helped lead the Bears to the NFC North title and a playoff win over the Green Bay Packers in just his first season.

It was a breath of fresh air compared to what the Bears had under Matt Eberflus.

After Chicago moved on from Eberflus, the former head coach took a job as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator. But it didn’t last long as he spent one season in Dallas before being fired. Now, Eberflus is remaining in the NFC as he has taken a new job this offseason.

San Francisco 49ers hire former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus

After his firing with the Bears, there were some questions as to where Matt Eberflus would end up last season. Fast forward to January 2026 and there were questions of where he would land after being fired by Dallas.

We now have the answer.

On Thursday, it was announced that the San Francisco 49ers have hired Eberflus as assistant head coach of defense. He replaces Gus Bradley who left to take a job in Tennessee with the Titans.

The 49ers have hired Matt Eberflus as their assistant head coach of defense, per sources.

Eberflus — the former Bears head coach and most recently Cowboys defensive coordinator — fills a key role vacated when Gus Bradley left for Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/x58ngjOc5r

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 5, 2026

Eberflus will now have a role with the 49ers’ defense and it might be a better fit than being a head coach or a defensive coordinator. He does get to work with a talented defense that was banged up for most of the 2025 season. But when healthy, there are some playmakers on that side of the football for the 49ers.

The 49ers are hoping that Eberflus can be a good addition to the staff. But for Bears fans, and now Cowboys fans, it’s interesting to see how he will do after being with those teams.

The post Former Chicago Bears head coach lands with NFC team appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The NBA GOAT debate continues to provide arguments for years. With Michael Jordan and LeBron James being at the center of it, the debates will continue to get stronger and stronger.

The latest?

“Game Over” podcast hosts Max Kellerman and Rich Paul had a spirited debate over Michael Jordan and how he would fare in today’s NBA. The podcast is hosted by “The Ringer” and this became a hot topic on a recent episode. It was sparked by Kellerman saying he believes Jordan would average 40 points and a triple double in today’s game.

However, Paul who is the CEO of Klutch Sports and a close friend of LeBron James. That’s where it gets interesting.

Rich Paul fires back about Michael Jordan claim

During the episode, Paul appeared to have James’ back and the rest of the NBA’s back in the debate. He disagreed with Kellerman’s take, arguing this younger generation wouldn’t back down.

“You’re out of your mind. I do believe that sometimes people say things that (Jordan) wouldn’t even believe. You’re missing a major point. You’re basing on this as if people still consider the pecking order.

These kids today they not bowing down to nobody. They not just gonna sit around and let you shoot every shot. In today’s NBA, guys are coming in and they’re not caring as much as you think about who you are and what you did. Because in their mind, ‘I’m the guy’ too.”

He believes the confidence of the younger generation would be an issue for Jordan. Kellerman grew up in the Jordan-era and will defend that era like he did on the podcast. However, with Paul being a close friend of James, it’s interesting ti see his answer and how it defends this generation that James has been a part of as well.

The debates will continue on.

The post LeBron James’ agent shoots down Michael Jordan take appeared first on ChiCitySports.

As the Chicago Bulls usher in their rebuild for the 2026 offseason, the franchise is finally heading into a direction they needed to years ago. It’s clear that there is need to go into this direction. But even so, there was a time where this franchise had a window to potentially win a title.

That was over 10 years ago.

The times have changed but the stories that come out from that era of Bulls’ basketball are still pretty good. The latest is from Taj Gbson, and his early time with the Bulls under Tom Thibodeau.

Taj Gibson calls practices under Thibs’ “hell”

Former Bulls draft pick Taj Gibson is still going strong, signing a deal with the Memphis Grizzlies recently. While his career is coming to an end soon, Gibson has had some time reminisce about his early days for the Bulls. Gibson was the No. 26 pick in the 2009 NBA Draft for the Bulls and had a lengthy career in Chicago.

He appeared on the “All The Smoke” podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson where he talked about the Thibodeau era and practices via Bleacher Nation:

“It was hell. Because you think about, we got a young Thibs. Imagine Thibs back then. You think he was tough now, imagine him back then. We didn’t have no regulations, we didn’t have no strict timing. No large training staffs. So then, you’re dealing with the Thibs factor. And Thibs is that guy. He’s gassing the situation up every day, ‘Oh you’re gonna let the first team destroy you guys again? You guys [are] getting thrown around like rag dolls!’

“And then you’ve got Carlos, in the back of his mind, he’s hearing the chatter. Joakim is the biggest s— talker in the whole NBA. Every day he’s clapping, ‘Yeah, T.G., you all not doing nothing today.’ And a couple times, I tried to fight him. I was like, ‘Yo.’ And that’s how it had to be. Every time in practice, we went at it. We tried to fight, we tried to scrap because we had to go against guys like y’all, the Clippers, we had to go against the top of the top every day. It was no holds barred.”

That’s awesome to hear.

We know how intense Thibs was in his time with the Bulls but hearing these stories are still pretty awesome.

The post Taj Gibson on Chicago Bulls practices under former coach: “It was hell” appeared first on ChiCitySports.

IAs the days go by, the Maxx Crosby rumors continue to heat up. The NFL is set to begin the new league year next Wednesday and so far, there hasn’t been a lot of movement on the Raiders’ front in terms of a deal for Crosby.

The one consistent in all of this is that the Raiders’ ideal compensation is reported to be two first-round picks. With the Chicago Bears and now the Dallas Cowboys showing interest, neither team has matched that just yet. I’m not so sure anyone will.

If that happens, it becomes a game of what team can offer the most outside of the two first-round picks. Now, with the Bears moving on from DJ Moore and acquiring a second-round pick plus opening up some cap space, Chicago feels like they are still in it. However, an NFL insider poured some cold water on that on Thursday.

Adam Schefter doesn’t think Chicago Bears will get it done for Maxx Crosby

While appearing on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter once again discussed the Max Crosby trade rumors. This time he did so during a segment as Moore was traded.

When asked about the possibility of getting Crosby after the Moore trade, here is what Schefter had to say:

“I think they have checked in on Maxx Crosby,” Schefter said. “I don’t think they will be able to get it done in the end; I think there have been a whole bunch of teams in on Maxx Crosby. It feels like one of those situations where it’s quiet now, the volcano is simmering and we are just waiting to see whether that volcano epruts here in the coming days and the Raiders decide to move on from Maxx Crosby.”

Schefter went on to say that the Bears, Cowboys and Bills have all checked in on Crosby. But he believes this deal now lessens the chances for the Bills to get a deal done.

For Chicago, it’s clear they have that big need for a pass rusher. But with the Raiders not coming off that asking price, it feels like Chicago could be looking in another direction.

The post NFL insider puts cold water on Chicago Bears and Maxx Crosby rumors appeared first on ChiCitySports.

23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick is off to a hot start this NASCAR season. On Sunday, he accomplished something that has never been done in NASCAR history when he won in Austin on the street course. In doing so, he became the first driver to win three-straight races to open a season.

Now, he looks to keep the momentum going into Phoenix.

Ahead of this weekend’s race, Reddick and 23XI Racing unveiled a new paint scheme. This one is the first Air Jordan-inspired one of the 2026 season and it pays homage to the early years of Air Jordan brand.

23XI Racing, Tyler Reddick’s new Air Jordan paint scheme

As Reddick goes for his fourth-straight win, he will do so in style. This new paint scheme is one of the best in recent memory for Reddick as it is a simple yet stylish design.

The car is dominated by black and blue with a sleek aesthetic. There’s red accents throughout and it represents the classic color from the Air Jordan styling in the brand. You can also see a smooth gradient transition with black to gold on the body panel.

Inspired by the early origins of @Jumpman23, @TylerReddick is ready to chase his fourth straight victory in Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/4xFwH0xAm8

— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) March 4, 2026

Reddick has run with Jordan-inspired paint schemes in the past. He’s had some pretty sleek schemes over time but this one is up there among the best.

Now let’s hope Reddick can come away with another win and continue his hot streak this season.

The post 23XI Racing, Tyler Reddick unveil new Air Jordan-inspired paint scheme for Phoenix race appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Maxx Crosby trade rumors continue to swirl with the Chicago Bears being front and center. While nothing has fully materialized as of yet, the new league year is approaching and the Crosby talk is increasing.

With the rumored return wanted from Las Vegas reportedly being similar to the Micah Parsons package, the question will be which team can pony up and do that? Will the Bears be willing to give up two first-round picks? Or could they get a deal done without doing that?

Having a need at pass rush with limited cap space isn’t an easy task for Ryan Poles to figure out. Crosby would solve that but it will certainly come at a big price. However, the Bears aren’t the only team sniffing around the Crosby trade market. In fact, an NFC team is reportedly in on Crosby.

The Dallas Cowboys have their eyes on Maxx Crosby per report

On Wednesday, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones wrote on Maxx Crosby and the latest he was hearing. Jones mentioned Chicago as a team showing interest but in his writing he also mentioned the Dallas Cowboys.

Here is what Jones had to say on the situation:

Multiple sources indicate the Chicago Bears are a team to watch in potentially dealing for Crosby. The Bears aren’t the only team with interest in Crosby — theDallas Cowboys are lurking, according to sources — but they could be best positioned to do a deal if one can be done. The new league year begins March 11. 

What is unclear is whether Crosby will play in 2026 under his current contract. He signed a three-year, $109.5 million extension last March that made him the highest-paid pass rusher in the league. The Raiders, led by then-first year GM John Spytek, beat the market and paid Crosby at the top of the position quickly. Now, Crosby’s $35.5 million average annual value contract is more than $10 million below the top of the market with Parsons.

If Crosby is willing to play this upcoming season on his current deal, that would sweeten the offers for Las Vegas. If Crosby wanted a raise, that would lessen the compensation sent to the Raiders. At least one high-ranking source tells CBS Sports it is his belief Crosby would play this season under his current contract.

This is certainly something to monitor moving forward for the Bears. The Cowboys just freed up a lot of cap space with two contract restructures including Dak Prescott.

But just how close is a Crosby deal anywhere? Stay tuned.

The post NFL Rumors: NFC team becomes Chicago Bears’ competition for Maxx Crosby appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The rumors of what the Chicago Bears will decide to do with wide receiver DJ Moore continue on. With a few years left on his contract, Moore’s cap hit is $28.5 million, and somehow getting out of that could free up some big cap space for the Bears.

But easier said than done.

Chicago might have a hard time finding someone to take on that contract and would likely have to eat some of that money. So far, we’ve seen Moore being connected to teams like the Las Vegas Raiders and Buffalo Bills. But a new team has potentially entered the mix and they also have a young quarterback.

Will the New England Patriots show interest in DJ Moore?

With the New England Patriots coming off a Super Bowl appearance, they could be poised to make a big move. Getting another weapon for quarterback Drake Maye, who is entering year three, should be the focus. Their offense struggled, mainly on the offensive line in the Super Bowl loss. But outside of Stefon Diggs, Maye doesn’t have a whole lot in terms of wide receivers.

On Wednesday, CBS Sports NFL reporter Jonathan Jones wrote on Moore and dropped a tidbit on the Patriots:

One Bears player plenty around the league are keeping an eye on is wide receiver D.J. Moore. The former first-round pick is coming off his least productive year of his career. The Patriots could be a landing spot for Moore if the Bears do a deal involving the receiver, or he could be part of a hypothetical package that goes to a needy Las Vegas team in a deal for Crosby.

Moore is entering his ninth season in the league with a contract that runs until 2029, with his guaranteed money essentially running through the 2027 season.

Moore didn’t have a huge year in 2025 for the Bears but he did come up with some big plays. The Bears now have to balance the factors of losing a wide receiver who has been productive in the past versus keeping him and having the same offensive weapons as last year.

Both Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson discussed Moore at the NFL combine and it’s clear a decision should be coming soon.

The post NFL Rumors: Top AFC team being linked to Chicago Bears WR appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Former Chicago Cubs manager David Ross will be remembered for his role helping the team win the World Series in 2016. It was “Grandpa Rossy’s” final year in major league baseball and he went out on top as the Cubs captured their first title in 108 years.

But after the team parted ways with Joe Maddon, Ross took over as manager. Although he found success early, the Cubs could never really get over the hump as the team went 262-284 in his time. They also failed to win a playoff series, falling in the 2020 Wild Card round in their lone appearance under Ross.

It was also a bit of a sour exit.

When the chance to hire Craig Counsell was available, the Cubs moved on from Ross and went with Counsell instead. Since then, we’ve rarely heard from Ross as he’s taken some time off. But now he’s back in baseball.

David Ross makes his return to baseball

After his retirement, Ross spent a few years working as an analyst for ESPN from 2017-19. Now, he’s back with the network.

On Tuesday, ESPN announced that Ross was re-joining the network as an analyst. He appeared right away on ESPN’s broadcast of Team USA vs. the San Francisco Giants as they are prepping for the World Baseball Classic.

“I’m so fired up,” Ross, who is serving as Team USA’s bullpen coach during the World Baseball Classic, said during the broadcast. He will serve as an analyst on the network both in studio and during games.

Former Cubs manager and current Team USA WBC bullpen coach David Ross is returning to ESPN as an MLB analyst. #MLB pic.twitter.com/stmEO9p0az

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 3, 2026

Ross spent 15 years in the major leagues after being a seventh-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1998. He won two World Series titles including the one that ended the Cubs’ long drought.

The post Former Chicago Cubs manager returns to baseball appeared first on ChiCitySports.

As the stadium saga for the Chicago Bears and Chicago White Sox continue on, one team just broke ground on their new project.

On Tuesday, the Chicago Fire held a special ceremony to break ground for their new $750 million stadium project “The 78”. The ceremony featured several members of the Fire organization as well as Mayor Brandon Johnson. The development of The 78 sits just along the Chicago River south of Roosevelt Road and the new stadium will be the centerpiece to that project.

It was an exciting day all around for MLS and the Fire franchise.

“The team will now have a permanent place to call their own,” Team president Dave Baldwin told NBC Chicago, of the milestone.

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber said the stadium plans are “reshaping the future of soccer in Chicago,” calling the design “one of the most ambitious stadium projects in Major League Soccer history.”

It’s an important project for the city of Chicago too. The $750 million investment marks the first major stadium development in Chicago in more than three decades.

A Billion-Dollar Commitment to Chicago

Since acquiring full ownership of the Club in 2019, Mansueto has committed more than $1 billion toward the long-term transformation of Chicago Fire FC, including the $100 million Endeavor Health Performance Center, enhanced Academy investment, and front office expansion. The new $750 million stadium represents the next chapter in a comprehensive vision to build a world-class soccer organization on and off the pitch.

“This is a historic day for Chicago Fire FC and for the city we are proud to call home,” said Joe Mansueto, Owner and Chairman of Chicago Fire FC. “This stadium is about investing in Chicago and creating a world-class home for our fans, players, and community. We are fully committed to delivering a venue that reflects the passion of the city and the ambition of this Club.”

Designed for Atmosphere, Built for Chicago

Designed by Gensler, the open-air stadium will seat more than 22,000 fans and feature a natural grass playing surface, 360-degree viewing, a dedicated supporters’ section engineered for atmosphere, and premium hospitality offerings that rival the best venues in global sport.

In addition to serving as the permanent home of Chicago Fire FC, the venue will host concerts, international sports matches, community events, and other large-scale programming year-round.

Located along the Chicago River at The 78, the venue will be a centerpiece of a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood and a catalyst for continued economic development and significant job opportunities in the South Loop. The riverfront location will integrate public plazas, activated outdoor spaces, and connectivity to surrounding retail and residential development, positioning the stadium as both a matchday destination and a year-round city asset.

“This groundbreaking represents years of vision, planning, and partnership,” said Dave Baldwin, President of Business Operations for Chicago Fire FC. “From day one, our goal has been to create one of the best sports and entertainment experiences in North America – one that is authentic to Chicago and designed with our fans at the center. Today is proof that we are delivering on that promise.”

The stadium is expected to open ahead of the 2028 MLS season, becoming the first major professional stadium built in Chicago in more than 30 years.

Building the Future of the Club—On and Off the Pitch

Today’s milestone builds on a series of strategic investments designed to elevate every aspect of the Club. In 2025, the Fire opened the Endeavor Health Performance Center, a $100 million, state-of-the-art training facility that supports first team, Chicago Fire II, and Academy operations under one roof. The Club also relocated its business operations to the iconic Wrigley Building in downtown Chicago, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the city’s core.

Earlier this year, the Club unveiled the Dear Chicago Experience Center in the Wrigley Building, a 9,000-square-foot immersive space featuring stadium renderings, interactive design elements, and product previews that offer fans and partners a tangible look at the future home of the Fire.

The stadium project brings together a premier team across development, design, construction, and commercial strategy, including Related Midwest as master developer of The 78, Gensler as lead architect, and a three-way construction partnership between Chicago-based Pepper Construction, GMA Construction Group, and All Construction Group.

For additional details on the stadium project, premium opportunities, and to experience the vision firsthand, visit www.dearchicago.com.

The post Chicago Fire officially break ground on new stadium project appeared first on ChiCitySports.

After finishing his 2025 season as a Heisman finalist, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is ready for the next step in his career. Love participated in the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis over the weekend, putting on a show in the drills that he ran.

Love was able to meet with teams as well and the reaction so far has been a positive one.

Going into this draft process, Love was considered a first-round pick and some had him as a top 10 talent. But it appears as if his stock increased with his performance in Indianapolis.

Jeremiyah Love’s stock on the rise for 2026 NFL Draft

With the combine officially complete, mock drafts are slowly coming out with updates from Indianapolis. In a few of them, Love has shot up in the Top 10 and some have him going in the top 5. The latest?

Nate Davis of USA TODAY Sports released his mock draft and has Love going No. 4 overall to the Tennessee Titans. Here is what Davis wrote on Love going to Tennessee in his mock:

What’s the best way to advance the development of QB Cam Ward, last year’s No. 1 overall pick? How about giving him a player perhaps adjacent to Saquon Barkley or Bijan Robinson in terms of game-breaking ability and versatility? Love is an every-down back, one who’s averaged 6.9 yards per carry and caught 55 passes over the past two seasons. The Titans could keep his usage in check as a rookie with RB Tony Pollard under contract for one more season. But pairing Love and Ward could potentially create an offense primed to surge ticket sales when the Titans move into their new stadium in 2027.

Love would be a huge addition to the Titans offense. Not only do they have a need at the position, but taking the pressure off of Cam Ward is crucial for the qaurterback’s second season. He could split carries with Tony Pollard as well.

For Love, Tennessee seems like a really good fit. The New York Giants sit at No. 5 as well and could be another good fit for him. They would also pair him with a young quarterback in Jaxson Dart.

The highest I’ve seen Love go is No. 3 overall with Todd McShay revealing that following the combine. Love will participate in Notre Dame’s pro day is scheduled for March 24th. It’s another opportunity for Love to improve his draft stock even more.

The post Notre Dame prospect shooting up draft boards after combine performance appeared first on ChiCitySports.

One of the hottest storylines this offseason involves Las Vegas Raiders’ star pass rusher Maxx Crosby. Trade rumors regarding the All-Pro surfaced ahead of the 2025 NFL Trade Deadline and while Crosby was not moved, those rumors are back and have started to pick up as the new league year is approaching.

At the center of those rumors are the Chicago Bears among a few other teams.

Reports have connected the Bears as well as the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles among others to show interest in Crosby. A trade for Crosby is going to cost a team at minimum a first round pick plus more picks and potentially a player or two. The Raiders are reportedly seeking a Micah Parsons-like trade which cost the Green Bay Packers two first-round picks as well as Kenny Clark.

As we get set for the new league year next week, the latest betting odds are favoring the Bears

Chicago Bears are the betting favorites for Maxx Crosby

When looking at the betting odds on DraftKings, Chicago is now 2/1 favorites to land Crosby at +200. Those were updated on Tuesday morning just a week before the league year officially begins. What’s interesting is the next team for Crosby is the Raiders. That would mean him getting traded to Chicago or staying with the Raiders are the two best odds as of right now.

Other teams odds include the Los Angeles Rams, Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens and Eagles at +700. The New England Patriots are at +1000. The Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are +1200.

The Chicago Bears are now FAVORITES to land Maxx Crosby

Odds Movement:

Yesterday: (+600)
This Morning: (+200)
NOW: (-145)

Odds via @DKSportsbook pic.twitter.com/GNdGotVQOC

— Barstool Gambling (@stoolgambling) March 3, 2026

But here’s what we have to note. The odds are really based on who is betting what. It means that more people are betting the Bears to land Crosby, driving the price of the odds down.

For the Bears, trading for Crosby is tricky as well.

Chicago is roughly $6M over the cap right now. They have to make some moves to get under the cap and then again to clear the space for Crosby who has a $30M cap hit for the 2026 season. Moving on from Tremaine Edmunds would create about half of that space. The Bears would also likely have to move on from DJ Moore and Tyson Bagent. Both have also been included in rumors.

The post Chicago Bears emerge as the betting favorites for Maxx Crosby appeared first on ChiCitySports.

As Spring Training continues on, the concerns of a work stoppage this offseason still loom. It could impact free agency and where players could end up in terms of the open market come next Winter. For the Chicago Cubs, there’s one large pending free agent who could be playing his final season in Chicago.

Outfielder Ian Happ has been with the big league club since 2017 as a staple in the team’s lineup. He’s seen a lot in the Cubs’ post-World Series era and entering 2026, he’s hoping to be a key cog in a playoff run this season. However, free agency is still on his mind as evident by his comments on Monday.

Ian Happ drops interesting quote on his pending free agency with Chicago Cubs

Happ signed a three-year contract extension worth $61M in April 2023 which included a no-trade clause. That kept him here through 2026 and allows both sides to see if there’s still a fit.

While Happ would love to stay in a place that has welcomed him with open arms and he’s become a fan favorite, there is that chance he won’t be back. Here is what he told reporters via Bruce Levine of 670 The Score.

“It’s been a true honor for me to represent this great city, organization and fan base,” Happ said. “The reality of this is ,you can’t control if the team wants you back.its totally plausible another chapter elsewhere awaits me.”

Ian Happ on free agency. “It’s been a true honor for me to represent this great city,,organization and fan base.The reality of this is ,you can’t control if the team wants you back.its totally plausible another chapter elsewhere awaits me.”

— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) March 2, 2026

Happ is coming off a season in which he slashes .243/.342/.420 with 23 home runs and 79 RBI’s. It was a solid season offensively for Happ who also helped man down the outfield in the Windy City.

With bigger needs, I imagine the two sides would love to come together for a deal. The Cubs really don’t have another answer right now at the big league level as Matt Shaw has been taking reps but isn’t a full-time replacement just yet. They do have Kelvin Alcantara but it would take a monster season in 2026 to prove it. Ethan Conrad and Kane Kepley aren’t ready either.

With Seiya Suzuki being in a contract year, it might make a lot more sense to try and keep Happ around.

The post MLB News: Chicago Cubs’ Ian Happ drops interesting quote about pending free agency appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The final regular season in college basketball is officially here and there are some seeding implications on the line in a lot of conferences. For the Big Ten, the Michigan Wolverines won the regular season and will be the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. But there are some seeds still up for grabs.

Illinois enters the week at 13-5 in conference play and behind both Nebraska and Michigan State who are 14-4. There’s a chance Illinois can get the No. 2 or No. 3 seed but will need some help. However, their overall NCAA Tournament seeding is in good shape.

The Fighting Illini enter this week as one of the top teams in the country and Bracketology. With Joe Lunardi of ESPN updating it on Tuesday’s and Friday’s, this week will continue on with daily updates. The latest was a good one for Illinois.

Illinois Basketball listed as a No. 2 seed in Joe Lunardi’s Braketology

On Monday morning, Lunardi released his updated Bracketology after the weekend of games. For Illinois, they are a No. 2 seed but they are the fourth team on the No. 2 line, making them the No. 8 team in the bracket. The Fighting Illini actually moved up despite a home loss to Michigan on Friday.

pic.twitter.com/60DzFr15Zi

— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) March 2, 2026

If this held, Illinois would be the No. 2 seed  in the West Region which is paired up with No. 1 Arizona, No. 3 Kansas, and No. 4 Alabama. That’s a pretty tough region, especially going out West into that time zone.

Ahead of Illinois on the two line is Michigan State, Florida, and Houston. The Illini could jump the Spartans and Cougars, but the Gators appear to be closer to a No. 1 seed than they do falling back as a No. 2. For Illinois, it’s simple. They need to take care of business at home against Oregon and the road at Maryland. From there, they need to have a good showing in the Big Ten Tournament.

If that happens, we could see them as the top No. 2 seed in this NCAA Tournament.

The post Illinois basketball slotted as No. 2 seed in latest Bracketology appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The 23XI Racing team made history on Sunday. For the first time in NASCAR history, a racer won the first three races of a season as Tyler Reddick took the checkered flag on Sunday at the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix near Austin.

It was the third-straight win for Reddick, opening up the season on a hot note. Reddick is one a handful of 23XI Racing drivers competing this year as the team is owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin. As the race ended and they headed to the winner’s circle, Jordan was interviewed and offered his thoughts on the start to the race season for his team.

And he’s proud of what they have accomplished.

Michael Jordan is proud of 23XI Racing after another win

Jordan was interviewed after the race by FOX reporter Kaitlyn Vincie, who asked the GOAT about winning three-straight races.

“I’m proud of the team that we put together. Denny [Hamlin] I’m pretty sure is the same way, he feels the same way as I do,” Jordan said. “I think a lot of credit goes to him because he’s the mastermind behind finding Tyler [Reddick]. . . Look, I just put up the money. I’m just a competitor. I think Denny has done an unbelievable job in helping me build this team. I think the team has done a good job in just taking our leadership and going out and winning. That’s what it’s about. Winning.”

23XI has done a lot of winning over these past three weeks which has brought a smile to Jordan’s face. It’s cool to see Jordan be so open and excited about this sport, something he has a passion for. That’s not only good for the sport but for the fans of it as well.

His team is now delivering in a big way too.

The post Michael Jordan says he’s proud of his 23XI Racing team after another victory appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The addition of Alex Bregman gives the Chicago Cubs one of the best infields in all of baseball. Bregman will man third while Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner play in the middle infield. But first baseman Michael Busch is someone who isn’t getting a lot of attention in terms of what he can do at first base.

That is until Bregman came along.

The former Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox slugger has been in the game for a while and knows what makes a good ballplayer. Ahead of the start of the season later this month, Bregman had a big compliment for Busch as Spring training rolls on.

Alex Bregman gives Michael Busch approval for impressive 2025 season

After the Chicago Cubs acquired Busch in 2024, he put together an impressive 2025 campaign. Busch held first base down for the Cubs and hit .261/.343/.523 with 34 home runs and 90 RBI. It may have felt like a quiet season for Busch outside of Chicago and judging by Bregman’s reaction, he approves.

Patrick Mooney of The Athletic wrote on Busch, including a tidbit where he says Bregman took notice of Busch’s stats which appeared on the video board during Friday’s exhibition game:

“I’m standing next to Bregman,” Counsell said Saturday, mimicking Bregman’s facial reaction while telling the story. “Bregman was like, ‘Wow.’”

Those totals did not include the four home runs Busch blasted in October, when he emerged as one of the team’s most dangerous hitters in the playoffs.

Busch is looking to build off of his breakout year in 2025 and make the Cubs infield and lineup that much more dangerous. There are some question marks in terms of a backup at first base but the starting job is in good shape.

Another big year for Busch will pay off for the Cubs who acquired him for prospects Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope.

The post Michael Busch has already earned the respect of Chicago Cubs star appeared first on ChiCitySports.

WWE’s Elimination Chamber is taking over the United Center as the final stop before Wrestlemania is in the Windy City. As the WWE world descends on Chicago, it’ s showing that more events in professional wrestling need to take place in the city as they haven’t had one in a while.

On Chicago native is trying to get that to happen.

Ahead of his big win over Finn Balor on Saturday night, Chicago native CM Punk is reportedly attempting to bring more WWE events to Chicago. He’s also targeting an iconic venue while doing so.

CM Punk working with WWE to host event at Wrigley Field

Ahead of Elimination Chamber on Saturday, CM Punk appeared on Rock 95.5 to talk about the event. And potentially some future events in the Windy City. It was there that he mentioned the possibility of Wrigley Field and a WWE event.  But it’s not so easy.

“Oh yes. I’ve had discussions with some executives, I’ll say. Yeah, they 100% want it. The hard thing for us is the scheduling and getting in. We need load in and load out day. Believe it or not, it’s probably a lot easier for Wrigley to book Green Day because they don’t have the man hours for load in. They are doing a stage, some sound, and that’s technically it. You need a little more time to roll our trucks in there and set things up because our production is that much more than a rock concert. We’ve been in discussions with it, it’s just going to make it so much easier to get it done if there is no baseball,” he said.

That’s very interesting.

It sounds like the two sides want to get it done but the logistics could be the issue as it’s hard to get it set up before and after.  Punk didn’t mention which event but something like Summer Slam would be awesome. That would depend on the Cubs‘ schedule that Summer in terms of the logistics. But if WWE was smart, getting something done in the iconic venue would be awesome.

The post CM Punk pushing for future WWE event at iconic Chicago venue appeared first on ChiCitySports.

As the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine rolls on, the rumors and reports are swirling in Indianapolis. For the Chicago Bears, one of the biggest reports came straight from Ryan Poles during his media session and involves backup quarterback Tyson Bagent.

Poles told the media that they have received calls for backup quarterback Tyson Bagent. The general manager said it was “expected” going into the offseason and now the team will have a decision to make. A good trade package could lead them from moving on from Bagent. That would also force them to look elsewhere for a replacement in terms of a backup quarterback.

They may have their eyes on a Bagent-like prospect as well.

Chicago Bears meet with intriguing quarterback

Chicago is going to do their homework on a lot of prospects. But with the Bagent news, looking at late-round or projected undrafted quarterbacks becomes something they need to do even more now. That’s exactly what Poles and his staff are doing.

North Dakota quarterback Cole Payton told reporters on Friday that he’s met with the Bears and Detroit Lions already. Both meetings were formal and were his only two formal meetings so far.

North Dakota State QB Cole Payton has had formal Combine meetings with the Bears & Lions pic.twitter.com/FmFbyiLoBM

— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) February 27, 2026

The 6-foot-3, 233-pound quarterback spent five seasons at North Dakota State and was a backup until his final season in 2025. Much like Bagent, he’s coming from a small school. He’s not projected to go undrafted but instead anywhere on day three.

Here is the scouting report on Payton via Lance Zierlein:

The post Chicago Bears could have eyes on potential Tyson Bagent-like QB in 2026 NFL Draft appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The 2025-26 NBA season can’t be over soon enough for the Chicago Bulls. After a 121-112 loss at home to the Portland Trailblazers on Thursday night at the United Center, the Bulls gifted their fans some coal.

The loss dropped Chicago to 0-11 in the month of February with their last win coming at the end of January. The 0-11 mark is the worst month ever by the Bulls in franchise history and the 11-game losing streak is the third-worst in franchise history.

OUCH.

The Bulls just finished the worst month in franchise history and their 11-game losing streak is the third-worst for the organization. Hard to believe they can find new lows after Floyd and Boylen years, but that trade deadline was a doozy.

— jon greenberg (@jon_greenberg) February 27, 2026

The Bulls have been dreadful in the month of February, with little for the fans to cheer about. Not only did they move players on the roster at the trade deadline but they didn’t receive many valuable assets, if any in the process. Chicago’s “rebuild” is underway but it’s a more painful one than expected.

Chicago Bulls tank is on.. but is it too late?

The Bulls finally picked a direction earlier in February. They decided to move Coby White, Kevin Heurter, Nikola Vucevic and Ayo Dosunmu, keeping Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey. It’s something that fans wanted the team to do in years past. But now, it might be too late.

The 2025 draft class was a really good one, led by Cooper Flagg. The Bulls essentially lost out on the No. 1 pick due to a coin flip with Dallas. But even getting into the top three would have been huge as a player like Kon Knueppel is looking like a franchise player. Then there’s 2026.

Right now, the Bulls are ninth in the NBA’s tank standings. They are 1.5 up on Memphis and 2 up on Dallas in terms of moving up to get into that lottery for a draft which is considered VERY strong. Realistically, the Bulls are probably going to finish eighth or ninth with the ceiling being sixth. But they have a lot of work to do.

Again, it was too late to start this “tank” and now they could miss out on another really strong draft.

The post Chicago Bulls hit historically ugly mark in loss to Trailblazers appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears have a handful of needs to address this offseason, with most of them on the defensive side of the ball. While pass rush might be the biggest need, Chicago could have to replace up to four safeties.

Chicago’s top four safeties in Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard, Elijah Hicks and Jonathan Owens are all set to be free agents. Bringing all four back will be tough but it’s expected that they will be able to bring back one starter and one reserve. That creates a big need.

And Chicago could look at the 2026 NFL Draft for a solution. Chicago has three picks in the top 100 of this year’s draft and it really feels like they will go safety with one of those. But could it be the first round? The Bears reportedly have their eyes on one of the top players at the position while at the scouting combine.

Chicago Bears meet with a top safety prospect

The Chicago Bears, as are all teams, are set to meet with a lot of prospects between now and the 2026 NFL Draft. The combine offers them the chance to do a lot in terms of those meetings. While not all of these meetings are significant, some can be in terms of draft plans.

For the Bears, one of the prospects they have met with would fill the need for a safety. On Thursday, safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren told reporters that he met with the Bears on day one of the NFL Combine.

“I met with them on the first day that I got here,” McNeil-Warren said via CHGO. “It went great. It went well, they are a great coaching staff.”

Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren met with the Bears day one of the NFL Combine

Says the opportunity “means everything” pic.twitter.com/VB9493bafh

— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) February 26, 2026

Going into this combine, McNeil-Warren is ranked as the second-best safety behind only Caleb Downs. The Toledo product currently is being mocked in the early second round of the draft. However, a big combine could shoot him into the first round.

If that happens, it could be intriguing for the Bears to look at McNeil-Warren at No. 25 overall.

The post Chicago Bears meet with potential first-round pick at scouting combine appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears have some big needs on the defensive side of the ball going into this offseason on all three levels. The Bears are likely going to be moving on from Tremaine Edmunds, suffering a big loss on their defense and creating another need.

One of the biggest needs comes on the defensive line where they need to find some pass rushers as well as guys who can disrupt the game.

But there’s a chance they could completely re-tool that line and move on from some players they invested in. The latest rumor suggests that the Bears will have the chance to do that.

Chicago Bears taking calls for Gervon Dexter?

With the NFL Scouting Combine underway in Indianapolis, the rumors and reports are starting to come in fast. The latest from Indianapolis that is connected to the Bears comes from Jordan Schultz.

On Thursday, Schultz reported that teams have inquired with the Bears about trading for defensive tackle Gervon Dexter. The reason? The free-agent market and draft class at the position are not very deep. 

Sources: Teams have inquired with the #Bears about trading for DT Gervon Dexter, as the free-agent DT market and draft class are not deep.

The 24-year-old started all 17 games last season and has 13.5 career sacks and 42 QB hits. He is entering the final year of his rookie… pic.twitter.com/7v9LhAm4QH

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 26, 2026

The Bears selected Dexter in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s going into the final year of his four-year rookie deal and while there has been some promise, the Bears are waiting for the potential to fully develop. As of now, it’s hard to say the Bears would give Dexter a new contract after this season. But do they want to create another need?

With this not being a deep draft or free agent class at defensive tackle, the options are limited. So why create another need especially when Dexter isn’t expensive, costing them just $2 million against the salary cap.

The Bears did draft Shemar Turner in 2025 but he suffered an injury in the offseason and then another during the season that cost him key playing time. So the Bears’ depth isn’t very good either.

The post NFL teams have eyes on Chicago Bears defensive lineman per report appeared first on ChiCitySports.

For the second-straight offseason, the Chicago Bears have a need to fill at left tackle.

After watching a competition that featured Braxton Jones, Theo Benedet and Ozzy Trapilo a year ago, the Bears finally thought they had their future starter in the rookie. As Trapilo took over mid-season, he was developing into a good left tackle. Then he got hurt.

Trapilo suffered a ruptured patellar tendon during the Bears win over the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round. It’s an injury that takes a long time to come back from, almost guaranteeing he will miss the 2026 season. On Tuesday, Ryan Poles met the media the scouting combine where he provided key information on Trapilo and the plan for the Bears moving forward.

Ryan Poles issues update on left tackle job

With the injury, Trapilo will miss the offseason and likely most of the 2026 regular season. But it doesn’t appear to be career-ending for the talented prospect the Bears took in the second round last year.

“Yeah, he’ll miss most of the year, but we expect him to come back and heal from that. There’s a plan in place,” Poles said. “I can’t give it a timeline or anything like that. I just don’t know. But yeah, we’re expecting him to be back and be himself. Pretty significant injury that he’s got to get through. But in terms of affecting his overall career or next year (2027), I don’t see that being an issue.”

So what will the Bears do? For the divisional round game, they turned to Joe Thuney who played really well. However, Poles doesn’t want to go down that route and prefers to keep Thuney in his normal spot.

“I would say only in a pinch,” Poles said. “We like him at left guard. That’s where we like him to play next year.”

The Bears will now look at the roster which only includes Benedet as Braxton Jones is a free agent. However, bringing Jones back for a year wouldn’t be a bad idea at all. They also could look at free agency and the draft for another solution.

The post Ryan Poles shuts down position change on Chicago Bears offensive line appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles met the media at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine just over a month since his post-season session concluded. Since that end of season presser, there’s been news surrounding the team on and off the field.

But one rumor that popped up included the quarterback position.

Just a week ago a report from Arizona suggested that the Cardinals were interested in quarterback Tyson Bagent. But since then, there’s essentially been zero on the topic of trade discussions. Until now.

Ryan Poles confirms Tyson Bagent trade rumor

During Poles’ media session on Tuesday, the general manager confirmed the rumor when asked about Bagent. He told the media that the team has taken calls on the backup quarterback.

“We anticipated that. Just because of the environment. I think if you piece and kind of do an overlay of the draft and free agency, we anticipated that someone like Tyson would get interest. We’ve gotten a few calls there. Obviously, the tough thing is what Ben thinks about Tyson, what I think about Tyson and what our locker room thinks about Tyson, that’s a really tough decision for us. But for Tyson as well, I think he would have the opportunity to go and perform for a team and do some really good things.”

A lot will go into the decision. There are key factors like the compensation involved, the teams involved, is it best to move Bagent or is he too valuable as a backup? That’s a decision that will not only be on Poles but also will have insight from Johnson as well.

In three seasons, Bagent has appeared in 12 games and made four starts. All four of those starts came in his rookie year as he was an undrafted free agent. He’s thrown for 917 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions.

For now, it’s all rumors but there is serious interest in terms of at least a few teams getting involved.

The post Ryan Poles confirms rumor about quarterback this offseason appeared first on ChiCitySports.

After a few years of being turned down for jobs, former Chicago Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham landed a big role. Cunningham was named general manager of the Atlanta Falcons, moving on to the next step in his career.

Now, as Cunningham arrives at his first combine as the head man in charge, he’s making his first big decision.

Ian Cunningham, Falcons moving on from Kirk Cousins

As the NFL Scouting Combine gets underway in Indianapolis this week, a lot of talk will be on potential free agents. Now, we can officially add another one to the list for teams needing a quarterback.

Ian Cunningham confirmed Tuesday morning during an appearance on 92.9 The Game in Atlanta that the Falcons will release veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins when the new league year begins in March. Cousins signed a four-year deal in 2024 worth $180M with $100M guaranteed. He lasted just two seasons in Atlanta as the Falcons also drafted Michael Penix in the 2024 season.

#Falcons GM Ian Cunningham confirmed on @929TheGame that Kirk Cousins will be released in March on the first day of the new league year, making him a free agent.

Cousins earned $100M during his two seasons with Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/gFKAXXBl8p

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 24, 2026

The Falcons are in a tough spot as Penix had a season-ending injury last year and likely won’t be ready for the start of 2026. Even so, Penix hasn’t proved to be a franchise quarterback the Falcons had hoped he would be.

The challenge now for Ian Cunningham is to find a long-term solution at quarterback. It’s a relatively weak draft class in terms of quarterbacks. The Falcons likely aren’t going to make a big move in free agency for one either. But the most important thing is that they made a decision on a veteran that cost them a lot of money.

Now, Cunningham has to do one of the hardest things in sports. Find a franchise quarterback.

The post Ian Cunningham makes first big decision as Atlanta Falcons GM appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are set to open up their exhibition schedule on Friday when they take on the Chicago White Sox in Arizona. This will give us our first look at this Cubs roster in terms of who will make the roster and who can improve their stock.

As we enter Spring Training, there are still a lot of questions about this team. One of the questions in the rotation is about Shota Imanga. After a injury-plagued season in 2025, the Cubs declined his three-year option, making him a free agent. However, Imanaga  accepted the $22 million qualifying offer to remain with the Cubs for another season.

With Chicago’s starting pitching depth being strong, it takes the pressure off of Imanaga. And on Thursday, manager Craig Counsell shared some positive news.

Craig Counsell shares positive update on Shota Imanaga

After an average season for Imanaga that saw some ups and downs, the focus will be on him being healthy. He enters camp healthy, which is great news moving forward.

With Imanaga being healthy, Counsell said his fastball velocity is up and believes the bad mechanics he showed last year were from the injury.

Here is what Counsell said about Imanaga via Bruce Levine of 670 The Score:

Counsell told us today in Mesa that Shota Imanaga’s throwing his fastball harder, is mostly a product of his hamstring being healthy. Counsell believes the injury created some bad mechanical issues while the pitcher compensated for the injury.

— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) February 19, 2026

Imanaga only pitched in 25 games last season, coming off a big 2024 season. His ERA climbed to 3.73, including a 4.70 ERA in the second half of the season. He struck out 117 batters in the 144.2 innings pitched.

With Cade Horton returning from injury and the addition of Edward Cabrera to go with Matthew Boyd, there won’t be as much pressure on Imanaga. And that might be a great thing as he can settle into that fourth spot in the rotation.

The post Craig Counsell shares important update on Shota Imanaga appeared first on ChiCitySports.

As the Chicago Cubs prepare for Spring Training, the excitement is high for this season and the potential of a deep playoff run in the Windy City. The Cubs know that the top dog in the National League is the Los Angeles Dodgers, as they look for a three-peat.

The Cubs have the chance to compete with the Dodgers due to a very good rotation and a talented lineup. At the center of that lineup is Pete Crow-Armstrong who enjoyed a breakout year in 2025. Now, PCA is hoping to be a spark again this season and he decided to shake things up a little bit ahead of the campaign.

Crow-Armstrong was the cover for the newest edition of Chicago Magazine, getting a feature. In there, he took a shot at the Dodgers, well at least their fans.

Our March issue is on newsstands now! Check it out for a wide-ranging interview with Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong, The Power 50 list, and the hottest restaurants in the city. pic.twitter.com/YjofTYpXNj

— Chicago magazine (@ChicagoMag) February 19, 2026

Pete Crow-Armstrong praises Cubs fans but takes shot at Dodgers fans

As part of the feature, Crow-Armstrong talked about his struggles in the second half of the season. He then praised Cubs fans for supporting him while then taking a shot at Dodgers fans.

“It’s just an incredible city. The people are great,” he said. “They give a s—. They aren’t just baseball fans who go to the game like Dodgers fans to take pictures or whatever. They are paying attention, they care.”

Crow-Armstrong isn’t wrong, either. It’s also good to add a little spice between two teams who should be competing for the top spot in the National League this season.

It’s clear Crow Armstrong loves the city of Chicago. He’s out at numerous sporting events and hanging out with Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams as well. While Crow-Armstrong  is on his rookie deal still, he hopes to get a deal done to keep him here for the long term.

And the Cubs would be very smart to get that done.

The post Pete Crow-Armstrong takes aim at Los Angeles Dodgers fans appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Tyler Reddick and 23XI Racing celebrated its first Daytona 500 win on Sunday afternoon after he took the lead on the final lap. That final lap had a few crashes but for Reddick, the only thing that matters is he was the first to cross the finish line.

As Reddick, his family, 23XI, and even Michael Jordan celebrated, there was a video that surfaced that had the internet in a stir. The clip showed Jordan grabbing Reddick’s son, and many on social media turned it into something it likely wasn’t.

Days later, Reddick was asked about the incident while doing an interview with Stephen A. Smith and he had no concerns.

Tyler Reddick speaks on Michael Jordan video

Stephen A. Smith asked him point blank about the incident during the interview. Reddick addressed it professionally with his response.

“From my perspective, I’ve gotten to know Michael and his family very well over the years I’ve been here with 23XI, and I don’t see what other people see when it comes to this,” Reddick said via Heavy. “For me, it’s a huge moment; this is the biggest moment of my career. It’s a huge moment for my family and for his family, and I just put that off to the side and think about the look on [Michael Jordan’s wife] Yvette’s face and the whole family and his whole group when they got to victory lane too, and how happy everybody was celebrating together. So, that’s where I’m at with it.”

Jordan and Reddick have built a friendship since 23XI Racing has existed. The two are close, as are the families. This is likely just a case of the internet making a big deal out of something that is out of context.

For Reddick, the focus is on the next race as there’s a long NASCAR season ahead. This was a huge moment for his career and I’m sure he’s ready to look past it and move forward.

The post Tyler Reddick discusses viral Michael Jordan video post-Daytona 500 win appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears stadium saga took a drastic turn on Thursday morning with a flurry of news and events. And for fans who want the team to stay in Illinois, it’s not great news.

The Bears and Indiana have made significant progress on a potential stadium near Hammond, Indiana. The Senate Bill 27 passed on Thursday morning in Indiana and was followed up by a statement from the Bears. Now, the statement didn’t fully commit to a deal to officially move to Northwest Indiana but it certainly suggested they are heading into that direction.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

An Illinois House Revenue & Finance Committee meeting scheduled for 8 am on Thursday was cancelled with no explanation. The Bears were NOT going to come to an agreement with Arlington Heights during that meeting. But there were reports of positive movement forward with that potential deal.

Just a few minutes later, the Senate Bill 27 was passed as Indiana Speaker of the House Todd Huston stated that the Bears will commit $2 billion to a stadium project near Wolf Lake in Northwest Indiana.

It was then reported that there were meetings on Wednesday with the Bears and BOTH states. For Illinois, Kevin Warren was not in attendance but they felt like progress was made.

It’s safe to say, it threw Illinois off guard and they were disappointed.

Governor JB Pritzker responds to Chicago Bears news

On Thursday morning, Governor JB Pritzker talked to reporters in Collinsville just hours after the news was released. Per Brenden Moore, Pritzker was “very disappointing” that the Bears would put out a statement “but not say anything about the advancement that’s been made in the state of Illinois.” He said they’d “mostly agreed on a bill” before the team hit pause. 

Pritzker said that Warren chose NOT to be in the meeting on Wednesday.

Gov. Pritzker adds that Kevin Warren “chose not to be in that meeting” yesterday in which the team and state officials “mostly agreed on a bill.” The Bears, the governor said, told his staff today that their statement “was not some confirmation that they’re moving to Indiana.” https://t.co/OfKSGI72Mo pic.twitter.com/Hcjy5PYsgO

— Brenden Moore (@brendenmoore13) February 19, 2026

This certainly isn’t a done deal by any means but it feels like the Bears are right there at the one-yard line in terms of closing a deal with Indiana.

But as we have found out with numerous statements over the past 22 months, nothing matters until the shovels are in the ground. Can Illinois and Pritzker save the Bears being in Illinois with a Hail Mary?

The post Gov. JB Pritzker responds to Chicago Bears statement with Indiana stadium project appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs didn’t give up on their core of prospects last season at the MLB Trade Deadline, opting to hold on to them. In the offseason, they did move outfielder and top prospect Owen Caissie to get some more pitching.

But they still have a good young core that is ready to make an impact. Someone to keep an eye on in terms of making an impact is outfielder Kevin Alcántara. The 23-year-old made his debut in 2024 and has played sparingly at the big league level.

In 2025, he had 11 at bats with four hits, two runs, an RBI and a stolen base.  He’s not ready for the full jump to come in and take over as a starter just yet but the 2026 campaign could be his breakout season. This past offseason, Alcántara worked hard to do what he can to be a contributor at the big league level.

That included one key adjustment.

Kevin Alcántara made swing adjustments in offseason

Ahead of Spring Training, Alcántara worked all offseason to get ready for the upcoming year. On Wednesday, he revealed to reporters just exactly what he fixed which included making an adjustment to his swing.

“If you want to pitch me wide, or high whatever you pitch me, I have power,” Alcantara said. “I just want to find the consistency to play for 10 or 11 or 12 years in the big leagues.”

Kevin Alcántara says he’s made swing adjustments this offseason to find more consistency pic.twitter.com/dI3tMT85oO

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) February 18, 2026

The prospect recently made Fangraphs Top 100 list for the upcoming season. But he also earned the praise of his manager as well. Craig Counsell told reporters that Alcantara has prepared well for a job this season.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said outfielder Kevin Alcantara has prepared well for a job.Alcantara said today he is confident in his ability and has matured waiting for chances.” Two years ago I would have been upset. Now I can control my attitude.”

— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) February 18, 2026

There’s a chance he can make the big league roster for Opening Day but he’s going to need a good Spring to do so.

The post Young Chicago Cubs outfielder makes key adjustment in offseason appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bulls finally made the decision to sell at the NBA Trade Deadline, hoping to reset this offseason. While Chicago moved on from a handful of key players, the return was a bit lackluster.

In reality, the Bulls waited too long to make these moves. It’s nice to stack second-round picks but the Bulls really should have tried to get into that top 3 last year as well as this year in the draft. Instead, they are 10th in the draft order right now ahead of the lottery in May. There’s a long way to go to get into that top 3 and potentially land a franchise-changing player.

As the NBA returns from break this week, the Bulls are being slammed once again. Specifically the front office.

CBS Sports slams Chicago Bulls front office

In Sam Quinn’s latest for CBS Sports, he ranked every front office in the NBA. It’s the perfect time to get a gauge on these front offices coming off of the all-star break and trade deadline.

To no one’s surprise in Chicago, the Bulls front office was ranked poorly. Quinn had the Bulls ranked 28th:

The Bulls have now technically moved up in back-to-back rankings. They should not take that as a compliment. The last two teams have just distinguished themselves too much over the last year for Chicago to do any worse than 28th.

I’ll give the Bulls this… they finally seem to have gotten the rebuilding memo. They gave away many of their desirable veterans at this year’s deadline. Of course, they didn’t manage to get a single first-round pick back for Nikola Vučević, Coby White or Ayo Dosunmu when any of them probably could have had they acted faster. They didn’t get first-rounders back for DeMar DeRozan (the Spurs got a valuable Kings swap out of that one, though!) or Lonzo Ball either. They got a first-round pick back for Zach LaVine… except it was their own protected pick. They could have just tanked to keep it. But they were too slow, and that’s true in more ways than one. The 2025 and 2026 draft classes were great. It’s a shame they missed the tanking boat on both, because 2027 and 2028 are not expected to be as promising.

You can read the rest in Quinn’s piece on CBS Sports.

The only good news is that the Bulls moved up one spot from No. 29 to No. 28 since July’s rankings. But that’s not really anything to celebrate at the moment.

There’s a long way to go for the Bulls in this rebuild and the goal right now should be to get into that lottery for a top pick.

The post Chicago Bulls front office named among worst in NBA appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The 2026 NFL offseason is barely a week old but things will pick up rapidly in the coming weeks. As the league descends on Indianapolis for the annual scouting combine next week, news will start to break about potential trades and free agency.

While the Bears have some decisions to make, having quarterback Caleb Williams and head coach Ben Johnson together for another year makes you feel comfortable. Despite the ending Chicago had, losing to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional round, the future is bright.

For Williams, it sounds like he’s itching to get back out there and hit the football field for his third season.

Caleb Williams ‘itching’ to get back out on football field

When the 2025 season concluded for the Chicago Bears, head coach Ben Johnson told the media his message to Williams was simple. Get away from football for a little bit. Williams took that message and enjoyed life outside of football, being spotted at a Blackhawks game and then at a Bulls game.

He’s been in California to get his mind off of football. However, his latest quote shows just how much he’s ready to get back out there.

While appearing on “The Rush” podcast with Maxx Crosby, Williams was asked about his offseason and how he handles things. The quarterback mentioned taking care of his body and staying active. Even though he’s not playing football, Williams said he’s ‘itching’ to get back out there.

“I’m actually itching to get back to be honest,” Williams said. “I’m fighting myself right now because I do know that rest and getting away is extremely important. I’m fighting the urge right now. The fire is burning. I’m excited to get back.”

That’s just the competitive nature of Williams that we have seen so far in Chicago.

Williams has spent time ‘getting away’ but you can only keep certain athletes away for so long. He has that competitive drive which is exactly what you want in a quarterback. Williams also mentioned how finding success last season inspires him even more to get back out there.

The post Caleb Williams delivers fiery quote about 2026 season appeared first on ChiCitySports.

With the addition of Alex Bregman this offseason, it solidified him as the team’s starting third baseman. It also gave Chicago one of the best infields in all of baseball with him, Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner and Michael Busch.

For Matt Shaw, he’s the odd man out in terms of starting in that infield. But it doesn’t mean he can’t make an impact.

Shaw has begun the transition to outfield in hopes of earning some valuable playing time there. Building up as a utility man was the best option for Shaw this offseason as he’s coming off a rookie season with high expectations. With Shaw taking reps in the outfield, the talented 24-year-old is enjoying his time there so far.

Playing outfield is ‘fun’ so far for Matt Shaw

Shaw caught up with the media at at Spring Training as the first preseason game approaches. Among the topics he talked about was playing outfield and how he’s enjoying making the transition to his new spot. But it’s one he’s played before.

“Yeah, outfield has been a lot of fun. I have a lot of experience out there from being a younger kid, playing a lot of outfield,” Shaw said. “I played a ton just growing up. I had two older brothers so I played outfield for them all the time. Played outfield Summer ball my freshman year and I played here and there in college a little bit too.”

Matt Shaw on playing in the outfield https://t.co/B0LsRsvoAj pic.twitter.com/MqfFsxY7cR

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) February 16, 2026

The transition isn’t an easy one but having some experience will help. Getting those reps in Spring should help Shaw as well. Right now, Shaw’s role will be that utility guy and he should see time at both infield and outfield.

But if he can find a way to be good defensively out there and work on his timely hitting, the ceiling should remain high for him.

The post Matt Shaw: ‘Playing outfield has been fun’ appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs big offseason acquisition was third baseman Alex Bregman. A year after the Cubs’ pursuit of Bregman failed, they finally landed their guy via free agency, adding a big bat to the lineup.

With Kyle Tucker not returning, adding Bregman was important for the Cubs. It not only gives them that legit bat in the lineup but also adds more depth in the infield.

Bregman spent the 2025 season with the Boston Red Sox and while the AL East power would have loved for him to return, it just wasn’t in the cards. But now, there might be some hard feelings between the Red Sox and Bregman’s decision.

Red Sox CEO calls out Alex Bregman

On Sunday, Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy was asked if the team was against offering no-trade clauses in negotiations. That question included Bregman due to the report of the Red Sox not including one in their offer to him. The answer? Well, Kennedy didn’t hold back.

The post Boston Red Sox CEO calls out Chicago Cubs prized free agent appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Michael Jordan is used to winning. He won a national championship while at North Carolina, won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls and even has won Olympic gold medals. But Sunday was a first for the legendary basketball star.

With Tyler Reddick crossing the finish line, he delivered himself, Jordan and 23XI Racing a Daytona 500 win. The first for all of 23XI Racing.

Reddick’s win was the first major race win for Jordan as the two and the team celebrated after the race. Jordan’s celebration not only caught the fans’ attention but NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell as well.

Steve O’Donnell says Michael Jordan winning was a ‘cool’ moment

Jordan was sitting in the 23XI box in pit lane, watching the final laps. While Bubba Wallace led for most of the third stage, it was Reddick that emerged victorious thanks to some crashes on the final lap. But as Jordan celebrated, O’Donnell noticed it.

O’Donnell told The Athletic he spotted Jordan, with both his hands in the air, shouting, “Yes! Yes! Yes! This is the greatest. The greatest.” Jordan then offered only warmth, no jabs.

“I’ve never seen a guy that enthusiastic — I mean, other than winning an NBA championship,” O’Donnell said. “He gave us both hugs. It was a really cool moment. It’s pretty awesome.”

It was another iconic moment for Jordan and it came months after his team and NASCAR settled in court. Jordan continues to stack up the wins now in Motorsports and Sunday’s was the biggest he’s had so far, months after his previous biggest win.

The post NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell shares cool moment with Michael Jordan appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton broke onto the scene in 2025 with a big rookie season. Horton was a finalist for the NL Rookie of the Year award, asserting himself as a dominant pitcher in the rotation.

While Horton battled an injury late in the year that kept him out of the playoffs, he’s expected to be Chicago’s ace for the 2026 MLB season in what is a deep rotation. Horton should be the top guy for the Cubs and the early reports out of Spring Training are encouraging.

Especially in one area.

Cade Horton is throwing harder in Spring Training

As the Cubs are down in Arizona for Spring Training, reports had some good news on Horton. His velocity appears to be up.

Per The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma, Horton is touching 98MPH on the radar gun after throwing  95.5 mph in the regular season last year. That’s a big jump for an already good pitcher in Horton.

Cade Horton is sitting 96 and hitting 98 and it's mid-February. “And he’s cruising,” Craig Counsell said.@sahadevsharma on the Cubs' second-year starter preparing to improve on his 2025 success:https://t.co/v0vRwUAaaS

— jon greenberg (@jon_greenberg) February 16, 2026

Horton is coming off that injury that ended his season early. The Cubs don’t want to push him too much either, so we shouldn’t be too worried about the velocity increase right away.

“We’ve really stressed to Cade a slow, steady build-up for the season,” manager Craig Counsell said,in The Athletic piece. “That’s what’s most important. He should have the feeling of he’s got a lot of time. He feels great, he’s in a great place.”

Horton posted a 2.67 ERA with a 1.085 WHIP in 2025. He went 11-4 overall while striking out 97 batters in 23 games before the injury bug hit him. If he gets even better in 2026, Horton could find himself in the Cy Young race and more importantly, should have the Cubs back in the postseason.

The post Cade Horton seeing a boost in velocity early in Spring Training appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The NFL offseason is just a week old but things will start to heat up very quickly. We are just a week away from the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine and three weeks away from the start of free agency.

And that’s when all the fun begins.

For the Chicago Bears, they enter a very important offseason after a successful first year under Ben Johnson. The task at hand now is to sustain that success but for Ryan Poles and his front office, they are going to need to fill some holes on the roster. They have some big decisions to make as well as they look to get under the cap.

While names like Trey Hendrickson and Maxx Crosby continue to be connected to the Bears, another option emerged early Monday morning.

Is Bradley Chubb an option for Chicago Bears?

On Monday, reports surfaced that the Miami Dolphins have released veteran defensive end Bradley Chubb. The 29-year-old spent four seasons in Miami and had two years left on his deal. Cutting him would save the Dolphins $7.3 million in cap space but that number increases to $21M if he’s a post-June 1st cut.

Chubb is coming off a season in which he started all 17 games and had 8.5 sacks. That was after missing the 2024 season with a torn ACL.

But does he make sense for the Bears?

With Chicago currently being under the cap, they will have to make moves to free up space. That means potentially moving on from guys who played a key role last season like Tremaine Edmunds and Cole Kmet.

For Chubb, he’s shown he can be productive in the past as he had 22 sacks in two-plus seasons in Miami. Chicago needs some help on the edge in terms of a pass rusher, but it will depend on the price.

The former top 5 pick’s market is tough to project at the moment. However, he won’t be cheap. With the Bears spending money on Dayo Odeybingo last season at three years and $48M, I imagine Chubb will cost more than that. And it might not be the price Ryan Poles and the Bears can afford.

The post Potential pass rush option emerges for Chicago Bears ahead of free agency appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Before Sunday’s Daytona 500 race, Michael Jordan talked about how important the race is to him. He mentioned watching it with his family growing up and how special that occasion was.

Hours later, Jordan was on victory lane and it’s an early birthday present for the GOAT who turns 63 on Tuesday.

In a crash filled final lap, 23XI’s Tyler Reddick emerged from the pack and took home the checkered flag for his first Daytona 500 win. Reddick didn’t lead a single lap in the race until the final one, which is all that matters.

TYLER REDDICK WINS THE DAYTONA 500! pic.twitter.com/nOAjUM4Buu

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 15, 2026

Tyler Reddick’s crazy final lap

Reddick got some help from 23XI teammate Riley Herbst who was driving really well on that final lap. Then, there were a few wrecks leading to Reddick crossing the finish line with crashes behind him.

Herbst finished eighth in the race while 23XI’s Bubba Wallace ended 10th after winning stage two and leading for most of the final stage until he had to pit.

The Daytona 500 win is the first for Reddick, Jordan and 23XI Racing as they are off to a good start for new season.

The post Tyler Reddick delivers Michael Jordan his first Daytona 500 victory appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Super Bowl of racing is taking place on Sunday as the Daytona 500 is underway in Florida. For Michael Jordan, his 23XI Racing team has four drivers in the field for the race as he’s seeking his first ever win at Daytona.

But before the race started, Jordan caught up with FOX Sports reporter Jamie Little and he had some interesting things to say.

Jordan did talk about how important the Daytona 500 race is to him. He mentioned watching it with his family as a kid, sitting around the TV each year for the race. However, it was what he said about the lawsuit he was apart of with 23XI and NASCAR.

Michael Jordan breaks silence on NASCAR lawsuit

After 15 long months, 23XI Racing settled a major lawsuit against NASCAR ahead of this new season. It was a lengthy process but in the end, Jordan and his team essentially got what they had hoped for.

Now, he’s talking about the result for the first time.

“Communication — the thing is, both sides have been somewhat at a stalemate and we both needed to have conversations about change, how we can grow this sport,” Jordan said. “Unfortunately, we had to go through what we had to go through last summer. But I think coming out of that, you have a much better appreciation for each other and I think it opens up conversations amongst each other to continue to grow the game.

“Don’t forget about the fans. The fans make this game so much enjoyable to watch. As much as we can listen, change, please the fans, please the teams and continue to grow the sport, I think everybody’s going to be OK.”

Michael Jordan checks in with Jamie Little before the Daytona 500. pic.twitter.com/0DSJ5QQF4i

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 15, 2026

The settlement between the two side awarded 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports charters after both relinquished their charters when they didn’t sign the 2025-31 agreement to pursue the lawsuit. It also included an amendment with an agreement for all teams to have a form of “evergreen charters.”

It will now allow teams to receive revenue from the NASCAR international media rights deal.

The post Michael Jordan breaks silence on NASCAR lawsuit at Daytona 500 appeared first on ChiCitySports.

It’s pretty clear that one of the biggest needs for the Chicago Bears this offseason is on the defensive line. Outside of Montez Sweat, the Bears really struggled to to get to the quarterback this past season.

They signed Dayo Odeyingbo in free agency to a big deal but he only played in just eight games and recorded one sack before hitting injured reserve and missing the rest of the year. While Austin Booker showed promise, the Bears still need to boost that pass rush and potentially find more depth.

If Chicago isn’t able to land Maxx Crosby or Trey Hendrickson, there’s still some good news for them.

The 2026 NFL Draft class is a good one for edge rushers

While the Bears could look to add at defensive tackle, the edge rushers in this 2026 NFL Draft class are already being praised. The latest to do so is Daniel Jeremiah who tweeted out that the depth of this class is impressive.

He went as far as saying there are 10 guys worthy of a spot in the top 50 this year.

If you need an edge rusher, this is a good draft to double up. The depth of the class is impressive. I've got 10 guys worthy of a spot in top 50 players. There's another layer of traitsy players beyond that group.

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) February 13, 2026

That should be great for the Bears.

Chicago is slated to pick 25th in the first round and if they have their eyes on a edge rusher there, that will likely be the pick. The top edge rushers like Rueben Bain Jr. and David Bailey are likely going top 10 but there are others that could fall to the Bears at 25. That includes Akheem Mesidor, Keldrick Faulk, T.J. Parker, Zion Young and R Mason Thomas are guys to keep an eye on.

For Ryan Poles, fixing that defensive line should be one of the biggest priorities this offseason. Doing so through the draft would be a great way to find some talent not only for this upcoming season but for the future as well.

We should know a lot more about these prospects after the Scouting Combine and all eyes will be on those players for the Bears.

The post NFL Draft analyst reveals good news for Chicago Bears’ biggest need appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The “Great American Race” takes place on Sunday as the NASCAR season will officially get underway. The annual race is one of the best of the season and is always an exciting day for race fans.

As we get set for the race on Sunday, NASCAR and FOX made a special announcement regarding another big event that day. To honor “The Simpsons” 800th episode on Sunday, NASCAR announced that Bart Simpson is the honorary starter for the Daytona 500.

A Bart Simpson mascot will wave the green flag while perched above the iconic 2.5-mile track to start The Great American Race on FOX. Due to weather in the area, NASCAR has moved the listed start at 1:30 p.m. ET and the green flag for 2:13 p.m. ET.

“It’s an honor to have Bart Simpson, an American icon of pop culture, serve as our honorary starter for the 68th running of the DAYTONA 500,” Frank Kelleher, President of Daytona International Speedway, said in a release. “Bart’s historic run of pranks and mischief on FOX for over 30 years has provided laughs for all ages. There’s no doubt that he’s going to have an absolute blast waving the green flag for The Great American Race.”

The Simpsons to celebrate 800 episodes

Sunday night will be a historic one for America’s favorite animated family. The show will air its 800th episode at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. After making its debut in 1989, the show is in its 37th season and there’s no signs of slowing down.

This isn’t Bart’s first time with the Daytona 500, either.

For The Simpsons’ 300th episode, Bart briefly appeared on FOX’s coverage of the Daytona 500 back in 2003.

Bart Simpson was briefly featured on FOX's coverage of the 2003 Daytona 500 to celebrate The Simpsons 300th episode

23 years later, Bart is the Honorary Starter of the Daytona 500 to mark The Simpsons 800th episode pic.twitter.com/R0BhXyrXY5

— nascarman (@nascarman_rr) February 13, 2026

Now, 23 years later he makes his return on what is going to be an awesome day on FOX.

The post Bart Simpson named honorary starter for Daytona 500 appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bulls are ushering in a rebuild through the moves they made at the NBA Trade Deadline. With Chicago going in that direction, they still have two pieces to build around in Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey.

Both are young enough to be key pieces in a rebuild and while it’s hard to potentially find motivation in a season like this, that’s not the case for this duo.

Specifically for Buzelis, he was named to the NBA’s Rising Stars Challenge and helped lead Team Vince to a win in that challenge. But he’s pointing to another Chicago legend and the moment he had as motivation.

How Matas Buzelis is using Derrick Rose for motivation

This season, the Bulls honored former MVP Derrick Rose by retiring his number 1. The banner will now hang in the rafters of the United Center forever and for Buzelis, it was a special night in more than one way.

Buzelis grew up a Bulls fan and now playing for his hometown team, he got to enjoy that special moment. It also provided him motivation.

“Honestly, I’m big into visualization,” Buzelis said. “That’s something that I see and I want to achieve that. Especially in Chicago, being hung next to Michael Jordan, it’s an honor to do that. That’s something that I see and it put more motivation into my mind.”

The forward had a good start to his second season and still has a lot to prove. He’s flashed his potential and the thing to remember is that he’s just 21-years-old, so there’s a lot of room to grow. It’s also cool to see that he understands how important that night was for the organization.

The post Matas Buzelis found motivation through Derrick Rose appeared first on ChiCitySports.